| All Windows Phone 8 devices will get 8.1 update Jan 9th 2014, 10:47, by James Rogerson 
Good news Windows Phone 8 users, your devices should be upgradeable to Windows Phone 8.1 when it launches later this year. That confirmation came straight from Greg Sullivan, Windows Phone director of public relations at Microsoft, in an interview with Computerworld. There had been rumors suggesting current Windows Phone 8 smartphones wouldn't get the upgrade to 8.1 - the same way Windows Phone 7 devices were left out of WP 8 - but those fears appear to have been laid to rest. Future-proofHe even went so far as to say that "we won't run out of head space on Windows Phone 8 any time soon", suggesting that users will likely be able to upgrade their devices to versions of the OS beyond 8.1 too. The only thing that could stand in the way of an upgrade to 8.1 is your network, as it will need to distribute the update. Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to land in April and will likely include Siri-like voice interaction, a swipe-down notification centre with access to quick settings and notifications and other tweaks such as separate media and ringtone volumes.        |  | Updated: iPhone 6 release date, news and rumors Jan 9th 2014, 10:36, by Dan Grabham 
The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C have been announced. So what does that mean for the iPhone 6? Well, we'll tell you. Or, at least, we'll tell you what we can glean from rumor and speculation - some reliable, some not so much. Given the iPhone's history - from the 3G onwards, there's always been a half-step S model before the next numbered iPhone - so it was no surprise the 5S was first and so we're looking at the second half of 2014 for a new iPhone 6. One thing is for sure, with potential refreshes of such super handsets as the Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia Z1 and HTC One, the next iPhone will have to seriously up its game. Cut to the chase
What is it? A major revision of the iPhone
When is it out? September 2014, we'd have thought
What will it cost? Expect premium pricing for a premium smartphone
iPhone 6 release dateThe iPhone 6 release date will be in 2014. It will follow the iPhone 5S which was released in September 2013. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek says that there will be a June 2014 release for the iPhone 6. We reckon it will be later than that, around a year after the 5S. Interestingly, in May 2013 Stuff reported it received a photo of the till system at a Vodafone UK store (which it has since removed along with the reference to Vodafone), with '4G iPhone 6' listed. FutTv : k5C7uNPo0LkauiPhone 6 home buttonAccording to Business Insider, of the many iPhone 6 prototypes Apple has made, one has a giant Retina+ IGZO display and a "new form factor with no home button. Gesture control is also possibly included". It will surely include Apple's new Touch ID finger print tech though? iPhone 6 screenThe Retina+ Sharp IGZO display would have a 1080p Full HD resolution. It's also been widely reported that Apple could introduce two handset sizes as it seeks to compete with the plethora of Android devices now on the market. Take this one with a pinch of salt, because China Times isn't always right: it reckons the codename iPhone Math, which may be a mistranslation of iPhone+, will have a 4.8-inch display. The same report suggests that Apple will release multiple handsets throughout the year over and above the iPhone 5S and 6, which seems a bit far-fetched to us. Patents show that Apple has been thinking about magical morphing technology that can hide sensors and even cameras. Will it make it into the iPhone 6? Probably not. That said, there's still a small possibility of the iPhone 6 sporting a flexible wraparound display after more patents were uncovered, but we reckon that's more likely to feature on the iPhone 7 or 8 instead. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek also says he believes the new iPhone will have a bigger screen. Different sizes also seem rather likely to us - the word on the street after WWDC 2013 was that there would be 4.7 and 5.7-inch versions. More rumors in September 2013 pointed to a 6-inch display, with further talk of a phablet sized 6-inch iPhone claiming it might arrive as early as May 2014. A couple of months later word of a 4.9-inch prototype iPhone 6 hit the web, and at the start of 2014 we heard that Apple will launch a 4.7-inch and a 5.7-inch iPhone 6 - just to keeping us all guessing. iPhone 6 casingIt's been suggested that there could even be three size variants of the new iPhone - check out these mocked up images by artist Peter Zigich. He calls the handsets iPhone 6 Mini, iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 XL (these look rather like the iPhone 5C variant though). However, as ZDNet rightly points out, different size variants aren't exactly easy to just magic out of thin air. You can expect more premium metal to come your way with the iPhone 6 too, and Apple patents for liquidmetal 3D printing suggest there may be a new way to form the sultry chassis on the new iPhone. That chassis could well be the thinnest yet - with word that Apple will slim down the svelte 7.6mm 5S body for the iPhone 6, and if leaked images of the phone's case are legit the handset may well be shockingly slender. 
The iPhone 6 will finally do NFCAbout time too. Well, that's what iDownloadblog reckons, quoting Jefferies analyst Peter Misek. Many Android phones now boast NFC and Apple appears to have been happy to be left behind here. iPhone 6 storageWe've already seen a 128GB iPad, so why not a 128GB iPhone 6? Yes, it'll cost a fortune, but high-spending early adopters love this stuff. See our video below on what Apple needs to do to slay Samsung's Galaxy S4 FutTv : 92l21W4GmvvIdThe iPhone 6 will run iOS 8With iOS 7 heading out of the traps now, who's betting against the next iPhone coming with iOS 8? We'd expect a September or October release date for iOS 8 in line with previous releases. iPhone 6 processorNot a huge surprise, this one: the next processor one will be a quad-core A8 or an evolved A7. The big sell here is more power with better efficiency, which should help battery life. Anyone hoping for some juicy Samsung technology hidden under the iPhone 6 body will be disappointed though, as reports suggest Apple is looking to push its Korean rival further out of the iPhone picture with its eighth-gen handset. Apple is apparently cutting the amount of A8 processors it is having made by Samsung, although it hasn't severed ties completely just yet. iPhone 6 cameraApple's bought camera sensors from Sony before, and this year we're going to see a new, 13-megapixel sensor that takes up less room without compromising image quality. An Apple patent, uncovered by Apple Insider in May 2013, shows a system where an iPhone can remotely control other illuminating devices - extra flashes. It would work in a similar manner to that seen in professional photography studios. Interesting stuff. 
iPhone 6 Sapphire crystals GT Advanced Technologies provides crystal grow equipment and materials for consumer electronics, among other industries and has announced that it's signed a multi-year supply agreement with Apple to provide sapphire materials. Sapphire has figured prominently in recent Apple products - the iPhone 5S' Touch ID fingerprint reader features a cut sapphire crystal cover and the iPhone 5 was the first to feature a sapphire crystal lens.So what will we see in the iPhone 6? Certainly the Touch ID fingerprint reader, but also other scratch-proof materials. GT says it will own and operate the machinery to produce this stuff at a new Apple plant in Arizona. iPhone 6 eye tracking One thing seems certain - Apple can't ignore the massive movement towards eye-tracking tech from other vendors, especially Samsung. It seems a shoe-in that Apple will deliver some kind of motion tech within the next iPhone, probably from uMoove. iPhone 6 wireless chargingWireless charging still isn't mainstream. Could Apple help give it a push? CP Tech reports that Apple has filed a patent for efficient wireless charging, but then again Apple has filed patents for pretty much anything imaginable. The tasty bit of this particular patent is that Apple's tech wouldn't just charge one device, but multiple ones. Here are more details on the iPhone 6 wireless charging patent. Meanwhile, a further Apple patent seems to imply that future iPhones will be able to adjust volume as you move them away from your ear. And could the iPhone 6 really have 3D? It's unlikely, but the rumours keep on coming.        | | iPhone 6 image leak points towards super slim design Jan 9th 2014, 10:15, by James Rogerson 
While people are still flocking to buy the iPhone 5S, Apple is surely already hard at work on the iPhone 6 and it may be taking a shrink ray to the components. The first photographic evidence of that may have emerged in the form of two blurry pictures of what appears to be a very slim metal smartphone frame. There's precisely zero proof that these photos are of an iPhone, beyond the fact that Apple leaker C-Tech claims they are, so take it with a huge pinch of salt for now. Slim pickingsOn the other hand it wouldn't be that surprising if they were legitimate. Apple has already slimmed down the iPad for the iPad Air, so it's not unreasonable to think that the Cupertino company might have similar plans for the next iPhone - maybe it'll even call it the iPhone Air. The size seems about right too, as while it looks bigger than the 4-inch iPhone 5S, other recent reports suggest that Apple is working on 4.7-inch to 5.5-inch handsets. That's all we have to go on so far, but if Apple really is working on bigger, slimmer handsets then that's a pretty huge change in itself. Anything else will just be the icing on the cake.        | | Apple and Samsung agree to more mediation ahead of next court date Jan 9th 2014, 10:15, by Kate Solomon 
New court documents reveal that Apple and Samsung are set to sit down and talk rationally in a mediation session before they head back to court in March. Apple CEO Tim Cook and his Samsung equivalent, Oh-Hyun Kwon, will attend a private session before February 19, with only their in-house legal teams in tow. After a year of explosive court clashes in 2012, 2013 saw Apple and Samsung settle down a bit and 2014 may even see them behave like adults. The quiet talks could result in a court-less settlement over Apple's claims that Samsung has copied its ideas and infringed on its patents relating to the iPhone and iPad. Mediate thisReuters says that the court documents that mention the mediation session also reveal that while the tech world's eye was on CES 2014, the two companies' legal eagles met to talk about a possible settlement on January 6. The signs for a settlement seem good, given that word also surfaced at the end of 2013 that talks about a deal were ongoing. That said, the two companies have danced this dance before and still ended up in court so, like children of a broken home, we'll just have to go back up to our rooms, turn the music up loud and drown out the sounds of shouting from below.        | | Samsung Galaxy S5 will arrive by April, may pack eye scanner Jan 9th 2014, 10:10, by Hugh Langley 
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is set to launch alongside a new and improved Galaxy Gear by April, and could one-up the iPhone 5S Touch ID with a retina scanner. Lee Young Hee, executive vice president of Samsung's mobile business, told Bloomberg that we should be ready for the S5 to drop soon. "We've been announcing our first flagship model in the first half of each year, around March and April, and we are still targeting for release around that time," said Lee. Good news, but not hugely surprising - we've been expecting Samsung to keep in step with its usual release patterns and hold its own event, rather than launch the phone at MWC 2014. What's more interesting though is that Lee hinted that the S5 may come with an eye-scanning security feature - a rumour that's refused to quit over the past few months. "Many people are fanatical about iris recognition technology," said Lee. "We are studying the possibility." Tears for GearsLee confirmed that the S5 will be launching alongside the new Galaxy Gear, which will have "more advanced functions" and will improve on the bulky design of the current model. In terms of design, Lee mentioned that we can expect the S5 to look a bit different from the usual. "For the S5, we will go back to the basics," Lee said. "Mostly, it's about the display and the feel of the cover." Finally, the report mentions the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, stating that it may arrive with a three-sided display. However it's unclear whether this word came from Lee, or whether this is just speculation based on rumours about such a feature. Lee does state, however, that we can expect the handset to be aimed at the high-end market: "We are targeting consumers who want more professional use and tend to be willing to pay more for handsets."        | | CES 2014: Legere on Sprint: Buy or no buy, what T-Mobile has done will prevail Jan 9th 2014, 02:48, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
The press couldn't let T-Mobile's sailor-mouthed CEO slip away without trying to pin him on the latest buyout rumors. John Legere had just wrapped up a CES 2014 press event where he introduced a plan to pay switchers early termination fees, claimed T-Mobile has the fastest 4G LTE network in the US and announced years-high customer growth. Then the prompt came down: Can you address growing rumors that Sprint may put in a bid for T-Mobile? As a CEO of a public company, the pink T-shirt clad Legere said he's supposed to "drool and say, 'Eh, I don't have anything to say about that.'" But... "I have a few things to say." T-Mobile ain't going nowhere"Historically, the consolidation in this industry was somebody buying somebody for spectrum," Legere laid out. "They didn't give a sh*t about the business. They wanted the spectrum. I think what you noticed about all of the people that are rumoring around about T-Mobile, all they are are spectrum. They're spectrum with no legs. So what I can tell you is that T-Mobile's Un-carrier business - the business, the brand, the attitude - is here to stay. The impact on the United States industry of this company will prevail. "I want you to think about two things about T-Mobile," Legere continued. "One thing that we showed last week is that we can acquire low-band spectrum and we can continue to participate in the availability of spectrum, build this company out and be standalone [and] independent because we not only have an engine, we have legs. "On the other hand, there are options for the industry for the future that are consolidation capabilities that would provide signficiant scale in capability. But I believe what we are in any of those equations is a brand, a focus on the consumer, a change agent, a maverick in the industry that I believe the United States feels extremely important. So I believe that what we're doing in any scenario will prevail." In other words, no matter how it shakes out, Legere believes T-Mobile's Uncarrier legacy, as it were, will live on.   | | CES 2014: T-Mobile claims fastest 4G LTE in US, says there's no reason it can't be No. 1 Jan 9th 2014, 01:32, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
T-Mobile may be making it more inciting to switch to its network, but what's the point if its 4G LTE coverage isn't as snappy as the other guys? CEO John Legere and crew made the au contraire claim at a CES 2014 press event that T-Mobile actually has the fastest connectivity around. Based on user tests gathered from the Ookla Speedtest app, the company laid claim to the quickest 4G LTE in the country. It provided speed comparisons taken January 7 between it, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint during a press event earlier today and are displayed in the image above. Of course, independently procured speed reads are the only way to know whether T-Mobile is telling the truth, but the company presented the data as hard fact anyway. Numbers gameCompany CTO Neville Ray also pointed out that along with being the fastest 4G LTE network around, T-Mobile's is also the most reliable. "Eighty-five percent of the time, customers get great, consistent speed from T-Mobile. It's not just peaks - it's a consistent and reliable service," he said. The day's announcements may have revolved around ETFs, family plans and LTE, but T-Mobile figured what better time to drop its preliminary Q4 2013 fiscal results on the crowd. Legere threw out various numbers, but the key take away was that the carrier added 4.4 million net new customers in 2013, with 1.645 million coming in Q4. We can be No. 1While the company may be stuck in fourth place, Legere was adamant that there's no reason why T-Mobile can't take the top spot, specifically when it comes making it into rural and suburban areas with better coverage. "I want to make it clear - I do not see limitations for T-Mobile to be seen as only a fourth or third or second carrier," he said. "There is nothing strategic and long term that we can't do to make us be the carrier in the United States. It won't happen next year, it won't happen in two years, but we're playing hard. We're playing direct into consumers. We're investing in the things that are required to do that and we will cover those areas."   | | Samsung's rumoured Galaxy Note 3 Neo could be the first hexa-core phone Jan 9th 2014, 00:27, by Chris Smith 
Samsung's been popping out Pro devices like a rain-soaked silicon Mogwi this week, but the company be about to switch focus to its second tier options, judging by alleged leaked internal documents. GSM Arena claims to have gotten its hands on Samsung literature showing full specs for the rumoured Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo, with one particularly interesting nuance. According to the documents the scaled back Note 3 Neo will contain a 1.7GHz dual-core and a 1.3GHz quad-core processor. If true, it'd make the as-yet-unofficial device, the "industry's first" hexa-core phone. As with the grown-up version of the Galaxy Note 3, the processor would appear to be built on the ARM-based big.LITTLE tech, with the tasks split between the more and less powerful cores to boost efficiency. Note 2 with more cores?As far as other specs are concerned, the leaked documents peg the Note 3 Neo with a 5.5-inch 720p AMOLED screen, similar to the one nestling within 2012's Samsung Galaxy Note 2 handset. That's not where the similarities end, the literature also suggests the device will have 2GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera, and a 3,100 mAh battery. The Note 3 Neo will borrow the faux-leather rear casing from its namesake, as well as the Android 4.3 operating system, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, and HSPA+ 42mbps. If the documents turn out to be genuine, we wouldn't be at all surprised to see this handset arrive at Mobile World Congress next month, where the Galaxy S5 handset is also rumoured to be making its bow.        | | CES 2014: T-Mobile: Switch to us, and we'll give you up to $650 Jan 8th 2014, 20:33, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
John Legere may not have gotten to hear Mackelmore, but the T-Mobile CEO landed enough knock outs here at CES to make up for the slight. Legere was escorted out of his favorite punching bag AT&T's party in Vegas earlier this week, recanting the tale during T-Mo's Unleashed 4.0 press event earlier today. Let's just say, Legere doesn't seem too sorry about it, or the resulting buzz. But the real news from the press conference centered around a few key announcements, namely the confirmation that T-Mobile will start covering customers' early termination fees (ETFs) when they switch from Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, plus give them an additional credit when they make the move. In all, T-Mobile could end up forking $650 per line. How T-Mobile's ETF plan will workT-Mobile is going after family plans with its latest Uncarrier move, looking to unleash those with multiple lines on plans with varying start and end dates and give them the choice to switch services. "When [a carrier] is not doing well, someone should be able to pick up and leave," Legere said in introducing the plan. Here's how it will work: Starting tomorrow, customers with existing postpaid service on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint can come to T-Mobile if they trade-in an eligible device. They'll receive up to a $300 credit for the device along with up to $350 (in the form of a prepaid MasterCard) to cover the cost of the ETF. T-Mobile is opening it up to those on family plans by covering the ETFs and offering credits for up to five lines. "This is not a promotion. This is not a bribe," CMO Mike Sievert said during the event. There are a few caveats. Customers will need to pick up a new phone from T-Mobile, and they'll have to port their numbers over to T-Mobile. Sievert said that all T-Mobile smartphones, including high-end models, are now $0 down. 
When customers receive their final bill stamped with ETFs from their former carrier, they send it to T-Mobile or upload it to switch2tmobile.com. T-Mo then carts over the additional dollars to cover the cost of the ETF. As for existing T-Mobile customers, the carrier is throwing them a bone by waving their migration fee when they sign up for a Simple Choice plan. It involves moving off-contract, picking up a Simple Choice plan, trading in a current device and upgrading to a new one. Those with 1-5 lines can take advantage of the deal. We asked AT&T, Verizon and Sprint for comment on T-Mobile's announcement, and only AT&T responded by directing us to its offer of up to $450 to switch from T-Mobile to its network.   | | CES 2014: Sprint says the more, the merrier with new 'Framily' plan Jan 8th 2014, 16:34, by JR Bookwalter 
US carriers love to attract new business with discounted family plans, but why should the savings stop with our loved ones? That's the premise behind Sprint's reimagining of the family plan which launches this Friday. Sprint announced Tuesday that family plans can now extend to virtually anyone you know, thanks to the carrier's new "Framily" Plan, delivering big discounts with the more lines that are added. Starting at $55 per month for a single line with unlimited talk, text and 1GB of data, each new customer added to a Framily group drops the price for everyone by $5 per month, with seven to 10 lines for only $25 each per month. Best of all, Framily members can be anyone you know, with customized billing options for groups or individual lines and upgrades including unlimited data for $20 per month per line also available starting this Friday, January 10. Ignite a SparkOddly named family plans weren't the only announcement Sprint had at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, with word the carrier's faster Spark network speeds are expanding to 11 additional markets this week. Sprint customers in the Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio areas of Texas as well as Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Fort Lauderdale, Miami or Tampa, Florida will now see peak wireless data speeds as high at 60 Mbps thanks to recent Network Vision upgrades. Those improvements will also benefit no-contract customers on Boost Mobile, payLo and Virgin Mobile USA, where Broadband2Go users with a NETGEAR Mingle Mobile Hotspot have access to the first tri-band device for as little as $5 per day. Sprint Spark support is also featured on the bendable new LG G Flex headed to the carrier's shelves early this year, which interested buyers can pre-register for on the company's website. - Can the LG Chromebase make a splash on the desktop? Find out in our hands-on review!
  | | Is this the Nokia Normandy Android phone we've been hearing about? Jan 8th 2014, 15:46, by John McCann 
Will it? Won't it? We simply don't know if Nokia has plans to launch its own Android smartphone, with rumors suggesting either outcome is possible - but a fresh leak has given the "it will" camp a little more fire power. The regular (and normally accurate) @evleaks is at the centre of things again, posting an image which appears to resemble the Nokia Asha 503 - but with three rather different screens. A simple message accompanied the tweeted picture, reading "Android on Nokia ( -virtual buttons)" - hardly giving much away, but the sentiment is clear. Wait a minuteAfter closer inspection of the image we're a little dubious about its authenticity - there's some artifacting between the display and the handset's body, while the icons in the notification bar look a little too close to the top of the screen. What are we saying? Well these are warning flags for a Photoshop job, leading us to believe that these aren't official press shots nabbed from Nokia of its rumored "Normandy" Android handset. That's not to say the screenshots themselves are not real - @evleaks has a strong track record of being on the money, so we're still taking the leak pretty seriously. If Nokia does finally go to market with an Android device it looks set to sport a modified user interface - oh, and those lockscreen widget notifications look cool.        | | Is this the Nokia Normandy Android phone we've been hearing about? Jan 8th 2014, 15:46, by John McCann
Will it? Won't it? We simply don't know if Nokia has plans to launch its own Android smartphone, with rumours suggesting either outcome is possible - but a fresh leak has given the "it will" camp a little more fire power. The regular (and normally accurate) @evleaks is at the centre of things again, posting an image which appears to resemble the Nokia Asha 503 - but with three rather different screens. A simple message accompanied the tweeted picture, reading "Android on Nokia ( -virtual buttons)" - hardly giving much away, but the sentiment is clear. Wait a minuteAfter closer inspection of the image we're a little dubious about its authenticity - there's some artifacting between the display and the handset's body, while the icons in the notification bar look a little too close to the top of the screen. What are we saying? Well these are warning flags for a Photoshop job, leading us to believe that these aren't official press shots nabbed from Nokia of its rumoured "Normandy" Android handset. That's not to say the screenshots themselves are not real - @evleaks has a strong track record of being on the money, so we're still taking the leak pretty seriously. If Nokia does finally go to market with an Android device it looks set to sport a modified user interface - oh, and those lockscreen widget notifications look cool.        | | Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo escapes ahead of MWC 2014 Jan 8th 2014, 11:10, by Thomas Thorn 
CES 2014 may be in full swing but that hasn't stopped MWC 2014 news from reaching our ears, with a leak of the Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo hitting the web. The Galaxy Grand branding hasn't reached UK shores yet, although there have been hints that that Galaxy Grand 2 is likely to reach us later this year. GSM Arena claims to have seen an internal Samsung document, which reveals that the Galaxy Grand Neo is set to come in with lower specs than the Galaxy Grand 2, with a smaller and lower resolution 5-inch 480 x 800 display. Behind this sits a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, backed up with 1GB RAM, to keep Android 4.2 Jelly Bean running smoothly. Galaxy Grand Lite?For those looking to take those all important selfies, a VGA camera is fitted to the front with a 5MP sensor and LED flash rooted to the rear of the Grand Neo. Other key specs include a 2100mAh battery pack, Bluetooth 4.0, HSPA+ (no LTE here), Wi-Fi b/g/n, GPS and GLONASS all wrapped in a frame measuring 143.7 x 77.1 x 9.6mm. For all this, Samsung will apparently be asking for €299 (around $400, AU$460) of your hard earned money. You may think that this all sounds a bit familiar, and you'd be right as the specs match those we saw mooted last month for the Galaxy Grand Lite. We'll have to wait for MWC 2014 next month just what Samsung has in store for us, so keep your eyes glued here as we'll be sending our crack team of investigators to dig out all the best news for you.   | | Can renewed focus on physical keyboards save BlackBerry? Jan 8th 2014, 10:46, by Thomas Thorn 
Touchscreen smartphones might be all the rage but it seems that the humble QWERTY keyboard still has a place, in Canada at least. Bloomberg quotes new BlackBerry CEO John Chen at CES 2014 saying "I personally love the keyboards", adding that that future BB devices will "predominantly" use physical keyboards. Perhaps in a move to underline just how important keyboards are to BlackBerry's future, the Canadian firm is suing the creator of iPhone QWERTY snap-on Typo, an accessory that looks suspiciously like the BlackBerry Q10 keyboard. This could help BlackBerry re-establish themselves as a major smartphone player, following some less than impressive forays into the touchscreen market with the BlackBerry Storm and the more recent BlackBerry Z10 and Z30. It would also help gain back the business sectors that made the BlackBerry brand the mobile giant in the first place, the same sectors that are prolific with emails and rely upon physical buttons for easy typing. It makes sense then, that BlackBerry is set to focus on these markets over the next 18 months. I need a dollarWith all this focus on physical keyboards, you'd be wrong in thinking that this means the Canadian firm is set to abandon the consumer market completely. "Since I showed up there has been a lot of speculation that we're retreating from the phone business or the consumer business. This could not be further from the truth" said Chen. 2014 may herald a BlackBerry resurgence, and maybe one day we'll see BlackBerry return to being the device of choice amongst teens and young adults. Don't expect that to be anytime soon though, with Chen adding "if there's a dollar I need to spend between the consumer space and the enterprise space I'll spend it on the enterprise space for now".   | | Vodafone Australia takes $5 Roam Like Home to Asia Jan 8th 2014, 02:31, by Farrha Khan 
Vodafone's Roam Like Home is taking over the world one region at a time, today adding six Asian countries where you'll be able to roam for $5 a day. Vodafone introduced it's Red plans August last year, giving customers the ability to use their phones overseas as if at home for an extra $5 a day, as long as you keep within your plan allowance. The telco already allows its customers who are on Voda's Red plans to roam $5 a day in the US, UK, New Zealand and most of Europe, and now has added China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan and Thailand to the list, bringing the total to 46 countries so far. All Vodafone Red 12- and 24-month plans include unlimited calls to standard national numbers and mobiles and unlimited SMS to local and international numbers. The $65 a month plan includes 1.5GB of data, $80 a month will give you 2.5GB and $100 will give you 5GB of data. The Red roaming pushVodafone Australia will undoubtedly continue to push the availability of Roam Like Home in more regions and countries as it leverages the Vodafone Group's global presence. "Customers need to be able to access everything they would normally use on their smartphones like contacts, their email and apps," said Vodafone Australia Chief Marketing Officer Kim Clarke. "We are proud to continue to lead the change in transforming the roaming experience for Australian consumers and businesses." It's likely we will see further expansions over time in Asia, as well as other regions where the Vodafone Group also has a presence, including Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.   | | CES 2014: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact crams in flagship power with a lower price Jan 8th 2014, 00:37, by John McCann and Farrha Khan -470-75.jpg)
Step aside HTC One Mini and Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is here... and it's got a spec sheet which will blow your tiny circuit boards. Following in the footsteps of other cut-down flagships, Sony has mustered up the Xperia Z1 Compact, but as well as borrowing the name from the Japanese firm's high-end handset it also sports several other key elements. For starters there's the same 2.2GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 4G support and microSD slot that'll you find in the Sony Xperia Z1. The screen is, unsurprisingly, smaller at 4.3 inches, and the full HD resolution of the Z1 has been downgraded to 1280 x 720 on the Xperia Z1 Compact. Camera credentialsThere's more good news round the back of the handset, as nestled into the rear cover of the Xperia Z1 Compact is Sony's impressive 20.7MP camera with G Lens - consider its Samsung and HTC rivals don't get over 8MP (plus they're both dual-core), and you can see the spec-gulf widening.. As seems to be tradition with Sony's smartphone these days the Xperia Z1 Compact is also dust-resistant and waterproof, plus there's a dedicated shutter button on the side and the almost obligatory ability to use the touchscreen whilst wearing gloves. The sticking point for the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact could be its price, as it's unlikely to be as cheap as the One Mini or S4 Mini - but we'll have to wait and see on that one. Telstra has confirmed that it will be bringing the Xperia Z1 Compact to Australia starting from April, and will announce its pricing closer to the date.   | | UPDATED: AT&T Sponsored Data provides toll-free data, raises Net Neutrality concerns Jan 7th 2014, 19:18, by Matt Swider 
Update: AT&T, responding to concerns regarding the possibility of its Sponsored Data program violating Net Neutrality, told TechRadar that it's offering a variety of plans to content providers of all sizes. "We're offering a wide range of options that can help both small and large providers of content, apps, or services to increase mobile usage of their offerings," said company spokesperson. "Small providers could see great benefit from this model as they seek to draw customers and increase exposure to their offerings." The true judgement as to whether or not companies with deep pockets get an unfair advantage will come within the next three months. AT&T Sponsored Data is slated to launch in the first quarter of this year. Original story... AT&T announced a seemingly convenient sponsored data idea that is being marketed as a toll-free way of connecting to certain apps without being billed for the megabytes. "With AT&T Sponsored Data, you can browse websites, stream video and enjoy apps on your wireless device without impacting your monthly data allowance," announced the wireless carrier at CES 2014. AT&T's free data initiative is pretty easy to take advantage of, too. It's available to all active 4G AT&T phones, tablets and hotspots with post-paid or session-based plans. No activation is required. AT&T Sponsored Data, said to be coming soon, gives app developers a way to pay for and provide rich content to the masses without data for the user being an impediment. With the deep pockets developer picking up the tab, users can enjoy that content while staying within their contract's data limit. 
AT&T Sponsored Data skirts Net Neutrality AT&T seems like a win-win for both app developers and users, but just like its AT&T Next phone upgrade offer, there's an alarming catch. The idea of sponsored data immediately raises Net Neutrality concerns. It allows some app content to be downloaded onto AT&T devices without a surcharge. Other app makers have to deal with their content not arrive free of charge. That's hardly in line with the Net Neutrality principle of treating all Internet data equally. "Today, AT&T announced a 'Sponsored Data' plan that would put it in a position to pick winners and losers online," noted the privacy advocates at Public Knowledge. It's acting co-president, Michael Weinberg wants the FCC to get involved, writing that "AT&T's plan erects a massive barrier in front of anyone hoping to be the next big thing online." Developers flush with cash would be able to afford AT&T's sponsored data program and could unfairly give them an advantage over cash-strapped garage-based app makers. We've contacted AT&T for a response to the privacy concerns that followed its sponsored data announcement.   | |
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