Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 02-28-2014

TechRadar: Phone and communications news TechRadar UK latest feeds

Publish Your Book on Kindle Learn to self-publisher your book on Kindle. Boost your brand and credibility with this step-by-step training course for just $99. Enroll today. From our sponsors

Apple may stop iPhone 5S Touch ID 'forgetting' your fingers Feb 28th 2014, 14:35, by Hugh Langley Not long ago, we reported that a number of iPhone 5S users were complaining of a "fade" issue with the iPhone 5S Touch ID scanner, causing it to forget your fingerprints over time. Now a source "familiar with Apple's development plans" has said that the company is preparing to release a software update that could fix the problem. The source, speaking to Appleinsider, said that Apple is aware of the problem experienced by early adopters of the 5S, and will release a free software update "relatively soon". Give it the finger It's unclear whether this will be part of iOS 7.1, which is expected to arrive mid-March, or its own standalone update. Users who have experienced "fade" have temporary fixed the problem by reconfiguring their prints, however it's only taken weeks for the problem to appear again. Touch ID: genuinely useful or a passing gimmick? Week in Tech: A smartphone odyssey: from MWC to the stars Feb 28th 2014, 12:33, by TechRadar Sometimes we wonder if we had too much cheese before bedtime and we're dreaming of mad stuff such as Nokias running Android or Samsung making a smartwatch that isn't hideous and rubbish. But no! These aren't fromage-fuelled flights of fancy: they're real! This week was all about Mobile World Congress, or MWC to its friends. It's where the great and the good of the mobile world come to strut their stuff, and that means it's possibly the most important trade show in the tech calendar. Samsung was all over MWC, and while the Samsung Gear Fit wearable was pretty impressive the big news was the launch of the Galaxy S5. The launch wasn't a surprise, and neither was the phone: surprisingly, it turned out to lack any surprising new features. It's the iPhone 5S to the Galaxy S4's iPhone 5, a device that "takes the DNA of [its predecessor] and improves on it in most areas," as Gareth Beavis reports. The gimmicks of the S4 are gone; this time "the phone has focused on what users might actually want." It doesn't reinvent the smartphone, but it has "a great camera, strong screen, impressive packaging, a waterproof casing and a blazingly fast engine pumping things along." Making a splash This year's trend appears to be waterproofing. The S5 won't be damaged by a dunk, and neither will Sony's rather nifty Xperia Z2. If you're thinking, "hang on! Didn't Sony release a flagship phone just a couple of months ago?" you're right - the Xperia Z1 has barely cut its first tooth. "And yet here we are at MWC 2014 seeing the Xperia Z2, and it's a much better handset," Gareth says. If you thought the Z1 was pretty good, the Z2 is better still. The camera's better, the performance is fantastic and the screen's lovely. Sony had another Z2 to show us too, the Xperia Z2 Tablet. Like its similarly named smartphone sibling, the Z2 tablet is a sequel, and once again there's more power, more RAM and a nicer screen. The speakers are better too. It's not going to set the world on fire, but that's because "Sony had already overachieved on that front in 2013." The Z2 is "a really great tablet." Motorola had some nifty things to show us too. The firm formerly owned by Google had a "tigerish" MWC, Patrick Goss says: we "saw Moto variously hitting out at ugly wearable tech, announcing that a Motowatch was on the way, insisting that leaving Google was a good thing and laughing off questions of Motorola's demise. Another big name came out swinging at this year's MWC: Nokia, which unveiled its Nokia X range of smartphones. The phones run a forked version of Android, which is interesting when you remember that Nokia's currently being acquired by Microsoft. The phones are pretty nice, but don't expect to see them in your local smartphone emporium: they're aimed at the same developing market where ultra-cheap Android phones are selling in huge numbers, and the use of Microsoft services such as Outlook, Bing and OneDrive means they might act as an on-ramp for Windows Phone. Android agitations "Microsoft could actually benefit from Nokia's experimentation with Android," says Max Slater-Robbins: "all profits… go to Microsoft without having to spend money on building the features Android has and Windows Phone lacks." In a world where "Microsoft's services are its future, having hardware that supports that is no bad thing." Remember HTC, which used to set the Android agenda? These days it can't even seem to get its product names right. HTC Desire 816, anyone? The name's a shame, because "there's plenty we love about it", says Hugh Langley: it looks nice, the screen's sharp and it has dual Boomsound speakers "for those spontaneous disco emergencies." Ah, but can it survive in space? We strapped James Rogerson to a space rocket to find out. No, not really - but we did ask him to find out how well smartphones could cope in orbit. The answer, it seems, is not very well: thanks to space monsters, radiation and extreme temperature, space isn't the best place for a smartphone. No, not even a Samsung Galaxy. Missed anything from MWC 2014? Read out roundup from the Barcelona show If you're on Three then you now have 4G Feb 28th 2014, 11:13, by Kate Solomon All Three customers are now on a 4G tariff as the network's roll-out continues across the UK. You shouldn't be paying any more money for the 4G connection but if you have a 4G-friendly phone and are in one of the 36 towns and cities that Three has hit the 4G 'go' switch on, then you should be browsing at 4G speeds. Three says there should be 50 cities and over 200 towns rocking its brand of 4G by the end of 2014, with 98% of the UK covered by the end of 2015. In the market for a 4G phone? A whole host of them launched at MWC 2014 In depth: Flight alteration: how the smartphone is invading your air travel Feb 28th 2014, 10:30, by James Rogerson The phrase that brings dread at the start of a flight: "Please turn off all electronic devices during take-off and landing. Limited use is allowed during the flight." That wasn't so bad when all you had to do was switch off your Gameboy for a bit (although the lack of saving RUINED Super Mario Land) but nowadays, in our smartphone-addicted times, it's akin to being imprisoned in the 1980s for umpteen hours. It means flights are dead time, with no communication with the outside world, limited ability to work or play and during take-off and landing you were all but forced to read the in-flight magazine, which is a fate we wouldn't wish on anyone. There were reasons for this, beyond perhaps the hope that passengers might resort to overpriced alcohol in desperation. Take-off and landing are the most dangerous parts of a flight. If anything's going to go wrong it's likely to happen during your ascent or descent, so airline staff want you to pay attention to the safety information and not be distracted. There were also concerns that electronic devices might interfere with radio frequencies used by the cockpits navigation and communication equipment or degrade the signal strength of landing systems. The times they are a-changin' But things are finally changing, as it turns out that electronics might not be such an issue after all. Some US airlines recently carried out a series of tests which showed that electronic devices don't actually affect a plane's systems and restrictions are being lessened as a result. What does that mean for passengers? Well first of all you may soon be able to use phones, tablets, e-readers and other handheld devices during take-off and landing. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority has already allowed BA to make the change and other airlines might soon follow. This means on British Airways flights you no longer have to turn electronics off before boarding or before the descent, instead simply switching them to aeroplane mode and they can stay on for the duration of the flight. That applies to any handheld item that has a flight safe mode, though larger devices such as laptops can still only be used when the plane is cruising, which is more to do with keeping the seating area clear in the event of an accident. The relaxation of restrictions also means less downtime as you'll actually be able to use your phone and tablet during take-off and landing, giving you an average of 30 minutes extra use on every flight. It's a change which airlines seem to be happy about too. Madhu Unnikrishnan, a media relations manager for Virgin America, told us that "the FAA [previously] restricted the use of personal electronic devices (PED's) during take off and landing, and we complied with the rules. We are pleased that the agency has relaxed the rules to allow the use of PED's from gate to gate." The fact that people are using personal electronics more and have more freedom to use them has also played into a rethink on in-flight entertainment. For example Lufthansa has created a service which will stream movies, music and other content straight to passengers phones and tablets, removing the need to have screens built into planes and improving the quality of what you're watching - if you invest in a new smartphone or tablet with a decent screen, of course. Wi-Fly Even better, Wi-Fi is now available on some flights. For example BA offers it through its currently rather exclusive and limited OnAir service, keeping passengers connected to their world for the duration of a flight. In the US, on-board Wi-Fi is more widely available. It's a common feature of domestic flights, where there's a hotspot on board the plane, which transmits to specially built mobile phone masts on the ground. Since whatever device you're using is connecting to the plane rather than directly communicating with antennas on the ground it doesn't interfere with normal phone masts, while the masts that the aircraft communicates with operate at a lower transmitting power than normal ones, to avoid any interference with the plane's navigation systems. There are still problems to overcome though; for one thing there tends to be a cost attached to the service, which can put people off. Then there's the fact that heavy Wi-Fi use could drain your battery, especially on long flights, yet many planes still don't have power sockets for every seat. On-board Wi-Fi also poses problems for international travel, as right now it relies on more of a 3G / 4G hotspot on the plane (if available - many are still stuck on 2G / EDGE, which are nigh-on useless to most connected phones), which requires passengers to use data roaming and can have major costs attached. Phoning home from 30,000 feet It's an exciting step in the right direction though. It's bringing the in-flight experience into the 21st century and allowing your time on board to be less boring and more productive. The one thing that's still mostly not allowed is phone calls, but airlines are even starting to experiment with that, although there are obvious barriers. Mobile phone masts don't broadcast very far upwards, not to mention the fact that planes travel so fast that even if you could get a connection it would likely cut out as you move between towers, so even if you were allowed to use your phone on a plane you wouldn't actually be able to make calls the way things are now. But the solution is simple: airlines would just have to install a 'picocell' on the plane, which is a small cellular base station that basically does the same job as a mobile phone mast. Then the only hurdle is to ensure that passenger's phones connect to the network at their lowest setting, so as not to interfere with the on-board electronics. But new technologies have solved that problem and some airlines have already implemented them. Virgin Atlantic for example is experimenting with in-flight calls, while text messages are already sort of possible on Wi-Fi equipped planes, as Unnikrishnan told us that "we do not permit voice calls on board our flights, but guests may send text messages when connected to Wi-Fi through apps, such as iMessage and WhatsApp." So what does all this mean for aeroplane mode? Well, where it once turned off all connections it may soon be redesigned to allow for Wi-Fi and in the not too distant future it may not be needed at all. What do you think? Should we lament the loss of that peaceful flight time, or will the end of rubbish screens, lonely hours in the air and nothing but the hiss of the engines be a wonderful thing? Let us know in the comments below. The skies could soon get a lot busier if Amazon's vision of a drone delivery service takes off. Samsung set to catch up to Apple with 64-bit chips this year Feb 28th 2014, 10:28, by Hugh Langley Samsung is working hard on 64-bit technology, with plans to get it out into the open by the end of the year. Speaking to Cnet, Kyushik Hong, vp of marketing for Samsung's LSI business said that the company is "very actively working" on 64-bit right now. "64-bit is very important… in the sense that there's a real demand, whether you need it or not," said Hong. "Our chips will be ready whenever the operating systems and ecosystem go 64-bit." Lagging behind Hong added that Samsung is sure it's "not going to be the bottleneck" for the technology. All needs now is is for operating systems such as Android to support it. Apple was the first to get in on the 64-bit game back in September, packing the architecture into the iPhone 5S. Others, however, are still lagging behind. The Samsung Galaxy S5 was rumoured to be coming with a 64-bit processor at one point, but now you'll probably be waiting for the S6. However, there is a chance that we could see it arrive in the Galaxy Note 4, which is expected late this year. Hands on with the Samsung Galaxy S5 In depth: Firefox OS: could your next smartphone cost just £15? Feb 28th 2014, 08:00, by James Rogerson Firefox OS: What is it? Part 1 Android accounted for 81% of worldwide smartphone shipments in the third quarter of 2013 and iOS mopped up most of the rest according to a study by IDC. With that in mind it could be easy to think that Mozilla's new Firefox OS is doomed to fail; after all, how can it hope to compete with the sales figures of Apple and Google, especially when veterans like BlackBerry and big names like Microsoft's Windows Phone are struggling to make much of a dent in global sales? But Firefox OS isn't just another smartphone operating system. It's fundamentally different in creation to any of the major players and Mozilla's tactics and aims are somewhat different too. App freedom The goal of Firefox OS is primarily to create a truly open ecosystem, one where all apps can run on other operating systems and on almost any hardware. In other words: do away with the walled gardens that we've all become so accustomed to on phones. Other smartphone platforms require apps to be developed specifically for them, so if a developer wants to put an app on multiple device types then it has to be manually ported each time. It also means that if a user ever abandons one operating system for another they won't be able to access their apps anymore. They'll have to find and buy them all again and that's if they're even available. Firefox OS handles apps more like the internet handles web pages. Rather than proprietary tools they're built using open web standards like HTML5 and JavaScript, so they can run on just about any computing device that has access to Firefox, meaning Android phones and PCs alike can make use. In other words they're platform agnostic and as both Firefox OS and its apps have low hardware requirements you can access them on very affordable devices, designed to make the mobile web more open with minimal barriers to entry so the maximum amount of users can get involved. It's a lofty goal, but if Firefox OS wasn't so ambitious and so different it would have little hope of attracting any attention at all in the congested smartphone market - although it's worth noting that this project is as much about offering something new to the developing markets as it is trying to break the smartphone stranglehold in the more mature areas. Firefox OS is also about trust and community development. As a truly open source OS it's very transparent, allowing tech-savvy users to see how their personal data is handled, while both individuals and organisations are free to build on and modify Firefox OS to improve it and make it available for other platforms. Adaptation Firefox OS has another trick up its sleeve too and it's called adaptive app search. It's a search screen which is used both to find apps and documents that are already installed on your phone and web apps that you might be interested in, essentially combining a web search with a search of your phone storage. Simply type a word out and it will bring back all the relevant results from both local and online content. Web apps can then be used immediately or downloaded to your phone and the results will even adapt to your location when relevant, ensuring you always get the best results possible. This web-facing approach doesn't mean any phone running Firefox OS has no similarities to your Android or iPhone. It still uses a lock screen, home screen and notifications bar and handsets which run Firefox OS come with a camera complete with style filters, a music player and FM radio. On top of that there's the obvious suite of software: maps, the Firefox web browser, Firefox Marketplace for apps, an email app and built in integration with Facebook and Twitter to make users coming from other smartphones should feel right at home. Firefox OS: What is it? Part 2 Starting small But even with all the positive aspects of Firefox OS it's not really ready to take on Android and iOS. Both of those operating systems have been around for years and gone through numerous changes, while Firefox OS is only on version 1.2. It also has far fewer apps than either of the big two and so far it's only available for a handful of phones, most of which are pretty low end. So it's not likely to tempt too many consumers on these shores in its current state, but then it's also not easily available in many of the more developed smartphone nations yet and that's a very conscious decision from Mozilla. Smartphones are enormously popular in the UK, for instance, where 62.2% of the population has one according to a study by Statista. Disposable incomes are higher too, so expensive flagship phones are in great demand and the super-cheap aspirations of Firefox aren't being touted beyond finding some hardware available on eBay. As such it's incredibly unlikely that Firefox OS could make much headway in this area, with users entrenched in iOS and Android and looking for high end handsets. It's a similar story in the US and other wealthy nations, which is why Firefox OS is not available in them for the most part either. But there are some parts of the world where it's a very different story. In Peru, for example, smartphone penetration stands at just 17%, according to a study by Ipsos Peru, leaving the vast majority of its 30,475,144 strong population without a handset and likely to be more open to an iOS and Android alternative. This is true when you consider the availability of very affordable phones such as the ZTE Open and could soon be available for phones which cost as little as $25, which puts it in direct competition with the feature phone price range. Just because it's cheap, doesn't mean it's great though: check out our hands on: ZTE Open C review to see what we thought of the new hardware. In case you haven't guessed, Peru is one of the places where you can currently buy Firefox OS phones, showing Mozilla is instead trying to capture new and developing markets where the fact that it's so new won't be such a problem and the fact that it's affordable will be a huge advantage. With Firefox OS running on just 128MB of RAM it's going to be an appealing option for both customers and manufacturers, who can squeeze the OS into increasingly cheap handsets. In an interview Mozilla's Head of Engineering, Jonathan Nightingale, told us that "our CEO talks about how we're going to have 2 billion people joining the web for the first time and we've got about two billion on the web now, so the two billion coming in is going to look really different. "A lot of people are asking whether Firefox OS is designed for the emerging market and whether that's our segment. Certainly, that's an important place for us to be. We're non-profit, we're mission driven so we look at it and think, if those people are coming online, they're not going to be doing it on a $700 smartphone. We have a real opportunity to introduce something there." By focusing on developing markets Mozilla is also working towards its goal of bringing the web to more people, as it will get internet enabled phones into the hands of those who may never have owned a smartphone or computer before. It's a strategy mirrored by the likes of Nokia, which has had plans to build phones that connect the next billion users to the internet and explains why it's adding a version of Android (with the Nokia X) to its range to service this market segment which has access to 3G but no fixed landlines. Other brands, such as Sony, Huawei, LG and Alcatel are all getting behind the open OS, committing to launching hardware with a smattering of devices in the market, with more to come. It's not a huge, sweeping effort to enter the market, but shows that there is at least some intrigue there. So far things seem to be going according to plan for Mozilla's new OS, as back in October it was reported by Telefonica that Firefox OS accounted for more than 12% of smartphone sales in Venezuela and almost 9% in Colombia. Onwards and upwards Ultimately, once the OS matures (assuming it survives that long), there's every chance that it will spread to the UK and beyond and until it has matured you probably won't want it anyway. Even if or when it does go global Mozilla doesn't necessarily need it to compete with Android and iOS. As a non-profit organisation it doesn't need to be number one, all it needs is for enough people to be using Firefox OS that it's a known entity and that developers are making a large number of applications for it, applications which can then be run on other devices, keeping the mobile web open and accessible, which are two of the key stated goals in Mozilla's Manifesto. Firefox OS's use of HTML5 should make it easier for developers to get on board too as many will already know HTML5 and won't have to learn a new programming language. In the words of Nightingale: "There's 200,000 iOS developers, 600,000 Android developers and there's 8 million web developers out there. If you're not betting on HTML5, you're making a mistake." But Firefox OS isn't even just about phones. Panasonic for example plans to use Firefox OS in some of its smart TV's, while in the future Mozilla wants to see Firefox OS and the principles of openness that come with it make their way to smartwatches, cars and anything else with an internet connection. As Firefox OS is an open source system that other companies and individuals are allowed to adapt and use for their own purposes there's no reason it couldn't power stereos, fridges, vacuum cleaners and just about anything else in the future. In fact it's ideally positioned to capitalise on the ever growing number of smart devices. There's no doubt that it has an uphill struggle, but by taking a different, altogether more altruistic approach to things Mozilla and its Firefox OS might just stand a chance, particularly in developing nations. But with its focus firmly on the low-end of the market for now it's unlikely to be making waves in the more developed nations for the next few years - then again, at such a low cost, it's not unfeasible even now that you could pop online and buy an unlocked handset running the platform instead of upgrading to that hyper-expensive flagship model. Firefox OS isn't the only mobile upstart. Tizen is looking for a slice of the pie too. All New HTC One caught on camera (again), 4MP front snapper tipped Feb 27th 2014, 22:11, by Michelle Fitzsimmons The All New HTC One is a foregone conclusion at this point, but that's not stopping leaks from spilling in the days leading up to its March 25 launch. A user over at HardForum spent some one-on-one time and got a little handsy with a test version of the HTC One 2. The person's post seems to have been pulled, though not before a few sites got a hold of the info. Despite a number of to-be-expected bugs - this was an early model, after all - the leaker described the new HTC One as "faster than my Google Edition S4." The front, 4MP camera is "incredible" and "really crisp." The phone sported a dual-rear camera, and the HardForum user described it as "amazing" even though they weren't able to try it out. The 2014 edition it taller and thinner than the 2013 HTC One, too. Aside from an odd, off-color ring around the larger rear camera sensor, the design of the back matches earlier leaked images. We should know all in a few weeks time, so stayed tuned for all the latest - and confirmed specs - for the All New HTC One. Test your knowledge of the iPhone 6 right ... now The HTC One 2 may be improved and all, but the LG G Flex bends In Depth: iPhone 5C vs Sony Xperia Z1 Compact: The best 'baby brother' for you Feb 27th 2014, 19:31, by Thomas Thorn Design, camera and screen In the quest for searching for a new handset there are only a few handsets that actually stand out, but with their bright colours the chances are you've seen the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact and Apple's iPhone 5C. If after reading our full in depth reviews of both you're still struggling to work out which one of these 'cut down' handsets is right for you then you've come to the right place. Here we give each of these handsets another run through and pit them against each other in order to answer that all important question: which handset it right for you? Design Both handsets follow a similar design DNA as their larger siblings, although that is slightly less pronounced on the iPhone 5C. Its plastic chassis doesn't come with the same premium feel that is found on the iPhone 5S where the Xperia Z1 Compact still comes with the metallic and glass exterior that made the Xperia Z1 so stylish. In terms of sheer size the iPhone 5C comes out smaller all round, the curved plastic back wrapping around makes it smooth and really comfortable. Measurements of 124.4 x 59.2 x 9mm and 132g means it sits very easily in one hand. That's not to say that the Xperia Z1 Compact is uncomfortable, measuring a mere 127 x 64.9 x 9.5mm, so still very similar in size. The extra 5g in weight is also barely noticeable; it would take a lot to call the Z1 Compact heavy. The biggest difference is the whole feel that you get when holding the handsets, something that is particularly noticeable when holding an Xperia Z1 Compact, where the iPhone 5C takes an "unapologetically plastic" approach that many have equated with cheap. A glass and metal frame alludes to a high end device even when holding the lime green or pink options, although we'd struggle to say the effect isn't slightly muted . This means that it fits into an office environment much better and will suit those that don't wish to look so conspicuous when out and about. The colours of the iPhone 5C (white, pink, green, yellow and blue) help the Apple handset stand out a lot more, something that is vital in the evil world of playground politics or for those that really want to express themselves through their phone. Elsewhere though the Xperia Z1 Compact trumps the iPhone 5C thanks to its IP58 certification. This means that it comes with enough waterproofing to survive being dropped in a puddle, a bath or even the kitchen sink (although we're never going to advise making calls whilst in the shower). Covering of all the vital ports with the genius idea of leaving the headphone port exposed really gives the Xperia Z1 Compact something extra to shout about, as well as coming with the ability to take photos underwater with thanks to a dedicated camera button. Camera A dedicated camera button certainly hints that the camera isn't something that can be ignored on the Xperia Z1 Compact. Other clues might also have given it away; Sony crowing about the massive size (a whopping 20.7MP), the G Lens and Exmor sensor. On top of that it should be clear that the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is gunning for the compact camera market, something that is abundantly clear within the naming strategy. Apple hasn't left the iPhone 5C to suffer though, even if the 8MP sensor brought over from the iPhone 5 seems more than a little diminutive when stood in direct competition against the monstrous 20.7MP of the Sony. Even the front sensor of the compact Xperia is much larger than that of the iPhone 5C, coming with a 2MP offering rather than the 1.2MP that comes with the Apple. Sony has kept the same camera that graced the Xperia Z1 on the Compact and with it has also brought over the same revamped camera app. This means that the AR Mode, varying filters, superior auto and Timeshift modes all make an appearance as well as Social Live which allows for live broadcasting over social media. These modes will prove very handy when it comes to showing off your latest snaps to the likes of Flickr or Instagram. Budding photographers won't be left disappointed with the iPhone 5C though; its stripped back camera app provides little in the way of customisation but there are still a few filters that can be applied. Where the Sony provides oodles of camera gizmos, Apple has taken it the other way. Both just about border on providing too much or too little but it is to both of their credit as they both provide a unique experience with the Xperia Z1 Compact allowing you to explore to your heart's content and the iPhone 5C providing you with a really simple easy to use app. In terms of performance there was always going to be a difference even if you don't subscribe to the 'more megapixels means better imagery' scenario. In short, while the iPhone 5C provides a more-than-adequate mobile camera experience the Xperia Z1 Compact comes as one of the best handsets on the market for taking photos. Screen There are a few things that mark both the iPhone 5C and the Xperia Z1 Compact as smaller handsets. For the Apple it is as simple as being an iPhone; (in)famous for smaller screens when the likes of the 5.2-inch LG G2 and 5.7-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android handsets have really pushed the boundaries of what people expect on a mobile flagship. On the Sony the smaller nature is highlighted with the name, you don't call something "Compact" and expect it to be huge. Size-wise there is little to choose between the two. The Xperia Z1 Compact comes with a 4.3-inch screen making it marginally larger than the 4-inch iPhone 5C, as well as packing in a larger resolution. While not full HD (that would have been wishful thinking) we're treated to a HD 720 x 1280 screen that gives a really respectable 342ppi. On the Apple is a smaller 640 x 1136 resolution which gives the 5C a smaller 326ppi, although there is still a lot to be said about the iPhone's screen. It comes 'Retina' branded meaning that Apple feel that any higher ppi is indistinguishable by the human eye at the intended use distance, and it is still razor sharp. Neither screen lend themselves heavily to intense movie watching sessions whilst out and about, those are and will always be the preserve of the larger 'phablets' or even tablets. Instead these screens are far more suited to light web browsing whilst on the train or for playing casual games such as Angry Birds or any of the Flappy Bird clones. Again the Sony has a small trick up its sleeve in its ability to use the Xperia Z1 Compact with a pair of gloves on. Thanks to nifty screen technology the Z1 Compact recognises touches with a (rather annoying) circle on screen when the sensitivity is enhanced. It's only a small feature but it's one we can see being rather important when out in the cold. OS, performance and verdict OS Perhaps one of the biggest deciding factors of the Xperia Z1 Compact and the iPhone 5C will be the OS that comes supplied. Where the Sony comes with a heavily skinned version of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (although an upgrade to KitKat is on the horizon), the iPhone comes with Apple's proprietary iOS7. One of the greatest features of iOS has always been its very heavily populated App Store, although there is no doubt that today this is under serious threat from Google's Play Store. Both now provide innumerable apps to solve pretty much every smartphone problem that you could ever imagine. iOS is a rather heavily locked down system, coming with the bonus that a regulated app store means that there are no virus' wandering around and that when OS updates are made available they can be grabbed almost instantly. It is also one of the simplest mobile OS' to learn and use thanks to its icon based system, control centre (that can be accessed with a swipe up from the bottom from the screen) and a very unified feel. Apple's guidelines on how to make apps fit in with the iOS7 style really means that moving from apps from different developers doesn't come with a massive jump. Android is completely different thanks to the open source nature. Sony has had its chance to throw on many tweaks including a revamped notification centre than gives access to the same quick toggles that are found in Apple's Control Centre, as well as coming with a dedicated app drawer and widgets. Widgets are possibly one of the biggest draws to Android as they allow access to a plethora of information without having to physically open up an app. Another area that Android excels is its almost infinite customisability. Don't like the keyboard app? Get a new one. Don't like the SMS app? Fine another that suits your needs. In all there is a lot on offer from both OS' with both making an equally strong case. The simplicity of iOS tends to lend itself more to younger and older audiences thanks to its ease of use with the Sony's OS more appropriate to more intense users that want to be able to change things and at the drop of a hat. Performance and Storage In terms of performance there is little to choose from. Looking at the sheer specs you would think that Xperia Z1 Compact would completely blow the iPhone 5C out of the water. This isn't the case though thanks to the way iOS7 has been built. As we said, specs wise the Xperia Z1 wins hands down thanks to a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU that pumps out 2.2GHz of goodness backed up by 2GB or RAM. Apple's iPhone appears to lag a fair bit behind, graced instead with Apple's dual-core 1.3GHz CPU A6 chip and 1GB RAM. In day to day use the iPhone doesn't suffer though. Swiping between home screens is equally fluid, as is opening up the messaging app or calendar. Even casual gaming is as smooth on both handsets. Storage wise both the Xperia Z1 Compact and the iPhone 5C come out relatively even. Both come in 16GB options with Apple also providing a 32GB option should you decide that you want a little more storage for your vast music or film collection. Instead of offering a larger storage option the Sony offers microSD support instead. This does give the Japanese handset a slight advantage as the meagre 16GB can be boosted to a pretty massive 80GB, a whole 64GB extra. Colours One area that both the iPhone 5C and the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact can compete is in their wide range of colours. The plastic build of the iPhone means that Apple offer it in five colours to show off your personality, as well as coming with some equally bright 'Connect 4' style cases. Should you opt for it, there are white, blue, green, yellow or pink versions of the iPhone 5C. Interestingly there is no black version, but it's clear that the iPhone 5C is being targeted at a younger audience that is unlikely to want a boring black handset. The black and white versions of the Xperia Z1 Compact both come with the industrial feel that accompanies the more premium feeling Sony, although there is also the ability to get the Xperia in a lime green (which looks almost yellow in most cases) or pink hue. These are less suited for the business professional but seem much better for students. Verdict The choice between an Xperia Z1 Compact and iPhone 5C won't ever be an easy one. The larger camera of the Xperia makes it far more appropriate to those that are looking for a true replacement to the compact camera that they have to carry around. This is something that we can see being essential to property surveyors or other professionals. The Sony is also more appropriate to those that want to be able to heavily customise their handset or who want to play more intense games on the more powerful CPU. There is little doubt that the Sony is targeted towards the professional market in its black or white colours but also has enough appeal for a younger audience with its pink and green hues. Apple however has taken a far different tack. Where Sony has offered a shrunk down offering of the Xperia Z1, Apple has taken what makes its flagship so popular and wrapped it up in a cheaper chassis and aimed it at a market that might otherwise have been unable to get its hands on the iPhone 5S, although the Sony Xperia Z1 is cheaper to own. This is highlighted by the plastic build which is comfortable in smaller hands, the rounded edges not being as industrial and sharp, as well as the bright colours of the chassis that will help the handset stand out against the sea of black mobiles. The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact caters to every market with its more premium feel and will always target the more professional and more intense user, but if you're looking for something that keeps things more colourful and simple, the iPhone is likely to be your best bet - especially if you want a larger and better equipped apps store (but only just). Google Project Ara aiming for 2015 release at a ridiculously low price Feb 27th 2014, 18:44, by Michelle Fitzsimmons Going modular may be even cheaper and more accessible than some imagined. Speaking with Time, Google's Advanced Technology and Projects team revealed they want to get the first barebone Project Ara phone on the market for as little as $50 (about £29/AU$55). This "grayphone" will consist of little more than a frame, screen and Wi-Fi radio, and it will be "designed to be sold at convenience stores." Users could then swap out and plug in parts as they like, which will presumably cost a price per piece. Google hopes to put this consumer-ready version of Ara on sale in the first part of 2015. More Ara The Time report also revealed that Google plans to have some level of control over Ara's hardware. The platform supports three sizes of phone - mini, medium and jumbo, or phablet. Size will be determined by an aluminum endoskeleton, and this component will be Google-branded. The ambition is to do for hardware what Android and other platforms have done for software, Project Ara lead Paul Eremenko told Time. In other words, open handset manufacturing to innumerable developers as opposed to a handful of major names. There's still a ways to go before a $50 phone hits the market, including getting down to that price point to begin with and getting regulator approval in places like the US. Still, Eremenko said he wants Project Ara to be "great, not profitable," so consumers may hold out hope that customizable phones aren't far off. Here's the hands on you've been waiting for - read our Galaxy S5 review! In Depth: Android Beam: Why you should care about this hidden gem Feb 27th 2014, 18:20, by Thomas Thorn Near Field Communication technology (NFC) has spread its way across the mobile landscape like a forest wildfire, yet how many of us actually use it, let alone use it to its full potential? We all know how NFC works (if not, then here's all you need to know about NFC) although one of its greatest applications is still being hidden away and unused; Google's Android Beam. In order to help you make the most out of your hardware here's our guide to what Android Beam is and, more importantly, how it works. What is Android Beam? Having been baked into every iteration of Google's mobile OS since Android 4.0 Ice Cream, Android Beam is an app designed to make the most of NFC and enables the sharing of just about anything whether it's a contact card, picture, web page or YouTube link. How do I use it? The first thing to check before we go any further is whether your handset supports NFC. This can be found within connectivity settings alongside Wi-Fi and mobile data. Once this has been confirmed for both handsets it's as simple as touching the two devices together, bringing the NFC chips in close contact. Unfortunately, this isn't always as easy as it sounds when it comes to working out where the chip actually is, although we'd suggest that the chip is generally in the centre near the top. The handset that you're hoping to send information from should pull the screen in slightly displaying the message "Touch to Beam". Just tap the screen and you'll find the information popping up on the second handset, or a link to the Google Play store to find the relevant app. What if my handset doesn't show Android Beam? As Android Beam comes built into the Android OS there is no specific app for you to boot up. Instead just enable NFC on both handsets and press them together. Often handset manufacturers will allow you to turn NFC and Android Beam on and off individually. If you find that Android Beam doesn't appear within the Android NFC settings you shouldn't fret. The HTC One is a prime example as there is no mention of Android Beam anywhere; however following the above steps will still bring up the "Tap to Beam" page that we mentioned earlier. Owners of Samsung branded devices will also find sat alongside NFC the S-Beam app, which is largely the same thing, as you'll find out if you read on. If you're thinking of leaving though, why not find out whether you really need a MicroSD card in your phone? What is S-Beam? S-Beam is a Samsung specific app that builds onto features that are already included in Android Beam. It still connects via NFC although all data is sent via Wi-Fi Direct. This makes transfer speeds faster when sending files such as your latest holiday snap or video. Working through S-Beam is done in the exact same way as Android Beam, pressing the NFC chips in each device together, but it initiates a faster and stronger connection than Bluetooth. Are there any downsides? One of the biggest problems with Android Beam is NFC and the location of the chips. Availability of NFC is no longer an issue given that it now comes on many of even the cheapest handsets but locating the chip in the first place can be a pain in the posterior. In mobile phones the problem isn't so bad given there's limited space to choose from, but trying to locate the chip on a tablet can be more than a little tricky. This can often be found with a quick search online, although you then have to find a way of putting the two chips together. In tests we found that while the NFC chips recognised each other's presence (with a small vibration) the sending handset occasionally didn't want to register Beam. It is also probably worth pointing out, if not immediately obvious, that Android Beam does only work with Android phones. iPhone's don't even come with NFC on board, at least not yet., and Windows Phones don't want to know. What does the future hold? Since its inception Android Beam has grown to encompass sending files via Bluetooth. This works by instantly pairing devices and turning on Bluetooth, sending the file then disabling Bluetooth. You can then move the phones apart as they no longer rely upon NFC. Just as S-Beam incorporates Wi-Fi Direct so could Android Beam, something that may find favour from the recent Google-Samsung patent licensing deal. This would enable even faster file transfer than Bluetooth. At a stretch it's not too difficult to imagine Android Beam becoming part of the Internet of Things either, allowing you to tap your phone against an Android enabled refrigerator to share a shopping list or to a potential updated Chromecast dongle to enable Wi-Fi Direct streaming of content to a larger screen nearby. While NFC hasn't quite caught on as a payment method, there's still a real desire to find cool ways to connect - here's hoping Android Beam keeps getting the development it deserves. In Depth: Android Beam: Why you should care about this hidden gem Feb 27th 2014, 18:20, by Thomas Thorn Near Field Communication technology (NFC) has spread its way across the mobile landscape like a forest wildfire, yet how many of us actually use it, let alone use it to its full potential? We all know how NFC works (if not, then here's all you need to know about NFC) although one of its greatest applications is still being hidden away and unused; Google's Android Beam. In order to help you make the most out of your hardware here's our guide to what Android Beam is and, more importantly, how it works. What is Android Beam? Having been baked into every iteration of Google's mobile OS since Android 4.0 Ice Cream, Android Beam is an app designed to make the most of NFC and enables the sharing of just about anything whether it's a contact card, picture, web page or YouTube link. How do I use it? The first thing to check before we go any further is whether your handset supports NFC. This can be found within connectivity settings alongside Wi-Fi and mobile data. Once this has been confirmed for both handsets it's as simple as touching the two devices together, bringing the NFC chips in close contact. Unfortunately, this isn't always as easy as it sounds when it comes to working out where the chip actually is, although we'd suggest that the chip is generally in the centre near the top. The handset that you're hoping to send information from should pull the screen in slightly displaying the message "Touch to Beam". Just tap the screen and you'll find the information popping up on the second handset, or a link to the Google Play store to find the relevant app. What if my handset doesn't show Android Beam? As Android Beam comes built into the Android OS there is no specific app for you to boot up. Instead just enable NFC on both handsets and press them together. Often handset manufacturers will allow you to turn NFC and Android Beam on and off individually. If you find that Android Beam doesn't appear within the Android NFC settings you shouldn't fret. The HTC One is a prime example as there is no mention of Android Beam anywhere; however following the above steps will still bring up the "Tap to Beam" page that we mentioned earlier. Owners of Samsung branded devices will also find sat alongside NFC the S-Beam app, which is largely the same thing, as you'll find out if you read on. If you're thinking of leaving though, why not find out whether you really need a MicroSD card in your phone? What is S-Beam? S-Beam is a Samsung specific app that builds onto features that are already included in Android Beam. It still connects via NFC although all data is sent via Wi-Fi Direct. This makes transfer speeds faster when sending files such as your latest holiday snap or video. Working through S-Beam is done in the exact same way as Android Beam, pressing the NFC chips in each device together, but it initiates a faster and stronger connection than Bluetooth. Are there any downsides? One of the biggest problems with Android Beam is NFC and the location of the chips. Availability of NFC is no longer an issue given that it now comes on many of even the cheapest handsets but locating the chip in the first place can be a pain in the posterior. In mobile phones the problem isn't so bad given there's limited space to choose from, but trying to locate the chip on a tablet can be more than a little tricky. This can often be found with a quick search online, although you then have to find a way of putting the two chips together. In tests we found that while the NFC chips recognised each other's presence (with a small vibration) the sending handset occasionally didn't want to register Beam. It is also probably worth pointing out, if not immediately obvious, that Android Beam does only work with Android phones. iPhone's don't even come with NFC on board, at least not yet., and Windows Phones don't want to know. What does the future hold? Since its inception Android Beam has grown to encompass sending files via Bluetooth. This works by instantly pairing devices and turning on Bluetooth, sending the file then disabling Bluetooth. You can then move the phones apart as they no longer rely upon NFC. Just as S-Beam incorporates Wi-Fi Direct so could Android Beam, something that may find favour from the recent Google-Samsung patent licensing deal. This would enable even faster file transfer than Bluetooth. At a stretch it's not too difficult to imagine Android Beam becoming part of the Internet of Things either, allowing you to tap your phone against an Android enabled refrigerator to share a shopping list or to a potential updated Chromecast dongle to enable Wi-Fi Direct streaming of content to a larger screen nearby. While NFC hasn't quite caught on as a payment method, there's still a real desire to find cool ways to connect - here's hoping Android Beam keeps getting the development it deserves. BlackBerry may release a PlayBook follow-up, someday Feb 27th 2014, 17:59, by JR Bookwalter We haven't forgotten BlackBerry's brief and ill-fated foray into the tablet market, and apparently neither has the hardware maker. Let's just say, don't expect the company to launch a second attempt until it's damn good and ready. Pocket-lint spoke with BlackBerry Vice President of Global Product Management Francois Mahieu about the possibility of another PlayBook go, and it appears the firm is in no rush to unleash another tablet on consumers. According to Maheiu, BlackBerry simply isn't ready to yet. "Would BlackBerry consider one day re-entering the tablet market? Yes. Will BlackBerry do it in the coming months? No," the exec said. Never say never The BlackBerry PlayBook launched nearly three years ago to mixed reviews and ultimately contributed to dragging down the company's fortunes as the unwanted tablets wound up being continually marked down to fire sale pricing. Recovering from that folly is one of many challenges facing new BlackBerry CEO John Chen, but the onetime smartphone giant isn't completely closing the door on a potential sequel to its unloved tablet. "I wouldn't be surprised if we have a meeting one day and I show you a tablet. We have equity in that space, but we're not ready. We need more time," Mahieu elaborated. Judging from the way consumers largely turned their backs on the first PlayBook, BlackBerry's lackadaisical attitude toward the tablet market is probably a smart move, especially considering how many heavyweight names have already thrown their hats into that ring. Check out our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3! In Depth: Sailfish: the OS that wants to dethrone Android Feb 27th 2014, 16:49, by James Rogerson A new OS on the block There's revolution in the air. People and companies are tired of essentially being limited to a choice of just three smartphone operating systems. They're tired of the walled gardens of iOS and Windows Phone and they're wondering about the open-source-but-secretive development of Android. This atmosphere has led to four new operating systems being built to challenge the status quo. There's Firefox OS, Ubuntu, Tizen and Sailfish OS, an operating system developed by a small team with big ambitions. Sailfish OS might be reasonably new, but many of the ideas driving it aren't. It's an open source Linux based operating system but more specifically it was born from the ashes of Nokia's failed MeeGo OS, which was used on precisely one phone: the Nokia N9, before the Finnish phone-smiths pulled the plug. Hands on: Jolla Phone review Some of the people behind MeeGo weren't ready to abandon it though, so they jumped ship, formed a new company called Jolla, raised an impressive £160 million and got to work on Sailfish OS, taking many of the ideas from MeeGo with them. Not a button in sight So why should you care about Sailfish OS? Well, it's largely open source for one thing, and not open source in the way Android is where most of the development is done behind closed doors, but truly open, allowing the public to see much of what Jolla is doing and use the code for their own purposes. It also has a user interface that's quite different from any of the competition. It starts with the homescreen, which rather than showing static app icons instead gives you a window to all your open apps, and lets you switch between them or interact with them with a swipe, taking multitasking to a level not really seen on other phone OS's. For example, if you have the phone app open on the homescreen a swipe one way will reveal the dialer and the opposite way will show you your contacts. But each app icon also shows live information, so for example the music player might show what track is playing. In many ways it's a mix of BlackBerry 10's homescreen layout, Windows Phone 8's live tiles and Android's widgets all in one. As you might have guessed from all that, it's also a very gesture based OS. You can access the app drawer with a swipe up from the homescreen, get back by swiping from one side to the other when in an app or close it down by sliding your digit from top to bottom. You can also check your social network updates and other notifications without interrupting what you're doing by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, quickly access options that are relevant to the screen you're on by accessing the 'Pulley Menu' with a downwards swipe from the centre of the screen and wake the phone up from sleep by double tapping anywhere on the screen. It's a system which cuts down on buttons and menus and gives you access to just about everything from any app or screen. In fact there are no physical or virtual home, back, menu or search buttons. Being able to carry out different actions with just a swipe also makes it much easier to use one-handed than other mobile operating systems and could potentially help it stand out on larger handsets and tablets where two-handed use has been all but essential up to now. A colourful history Custom colours Sailfish OS also puts a lot of focus on visual customisation, allowing you to change the colour of the interface to match the colours of whatever background image you're using and the colour change is applied not just to the home screen but also to the apps themselves. It's an idea which Jolla has taken even further by releasing smart covers for its first Sailfish OS phone (also called Jolla). By putting a different coloured cover on the phone you'll get access to a matching wallpaper, theme and even sound effects. Each backplate is equipped with NFC, so the handset will be able to automatically communicate with it and detect which colour shell your phone has, changing the theme accordingly. There's a lot of marketing potential here for companies, as there's already an Angry Birds backplate for example, which not only shows off the brand to anyone looking at your phone but even alters the phones UI to act as a constant reminder that you haven't launched any birds off catapults in the last half hour. The cases can even add new functionality to the phone, for example there's one made by iProtoxi which has a light up Jolla logo, which can change colour to alert you to calls and texts, then let you answer by swiping across it or mute the call by holding your hand over it. Android compatible All of which is great, but a smartphone OS lives and dies by its app selection. This is an area where an upstart couldn't hope to compete right? Maybe not. Because Sailfish OS doesn't just have access to its own apps, it can also run Android apps from various app stores (though not Google Play unsurprisingly). So it instantly has access to a huge library of applications, in the same way Nokia is doing with the Nokia X family. Even so, it's still likely to be a tough sell to get manufacturers to actually release phones with Sailfish OS on when most people are buying iOS and Android, and as good as being compatible with Android apps is, especially in the developing markets where Sailfish is initially being targeted, it's not a patch on the proper Google Play store in users' minds. But not as tough a sell as you might think, because as well as being able to run Android apps it's also compatible with Android hardware, meaning that manufacturers can just load the OS onto hardware that they'd otherwise be shipping with Android. That makes things a lot quicker and cheaper for manufacturers and might make them more likely to take a chance on Sailfish OS, even if they only release the handsets in small numbers at first. So far that hasn't particularly panned out, because there's only one Sailfish OS phone and it's made by Jolla. It's also not the easiest thing in the world to get hold of as it's currently only sold in Finland, though it can be ordered SIM free from Jolla's site and shipped anywhere in the EU. Unlike anything else It's early days though and with its compatibility with Android apps and hardware you could argue Sailfish OS has a lot going for it. To stand out it needs to do more than just emulate Android of course, but its UI is genuinely quite different to anything else out there, as our preview with the first handset found. In fact Jolla's slogan is 'Unlike', a suggestion that the company doesn't see Sailfish OS as just another mobile operating system, but as something that will provide a different experience. Its gesture based interactions are a great example of how different it is and they offer a potentially faster, more natural way to interact with a smartphone than what we've become used to. It's a good looking operating system too, with a slick, colourful UI and attractive teardrop shaped icons. So Sailfish OS ticks a lot of boxes, but it's still got to build consumer interest which won't be easy and could be the first hurdle that blocks any kind of success outside of Finland. With only one handset currently available and even that one not all that widely released it's a long way off challenging even BlackBerry, let alone Android, iOS or Windows Phone. But the Android handset compatibility makes sense from a business perspective, and Jolla has also got Sailfish running on Android devices and plans to release a flashable version of the OS online,. With cajoling current users of Google's OS in mind, Jolla has even made an app that simulates the OS, so Android users can try it out for themselves at no cost, thereby spreading the OS further and faster than would be possible if it relied purely on hardware sales. Its Android implementation still needs work, as Android apps on the Jolla can be a bit unstable, while getting Sailfish running on Android handsets requires some optimising for different devices and right now it's a little buggy. But Jolla will presumably be working hard to smooth out the Android experience in future updates. Sailfish OS is versatile enough that it could also find its way into tablets, PC's, smart televisions and more, so ultimately it could become a household name if the public and brands suddenly find an appetite for a more malleable OS that puts innovation more easily in their hands. The more ecosystems on the market the better, as that leads to choice when choosing a new smartphone and tablet - so if Jolla manages to convince enough manufacturers to take a punt on this alternative OS, it could be an option for your next smartphone... or perhaps the one after that. Sailfish looks promising, but so does Tizen. In Depth: Sailfish: the OS that wants to dethrone Android Feb 27th 2014, 16:49, by James Rogerson A new OS on the block There's revolution in the air. People and companies are tired of essentially being limited to a choice of just three smartphone operating systems. They're tired of the walled gardens of iOS and Windows Phone and they're wondering about the open-source-but-secretive development of Android. This atmosphere has led to four new operating systems being built to challenge the status quo. There's Firefox OS, Ubuntu, Tizen and then now Sailfish OS, an operating system developed by a small team with big ambitions. Sailfish OS might be reasonably new, but many of the ideas driving it aren't. It's an open source Linux based operating system but more specifically it was born from the ashes of Nokia's failed MeeGo OS, which was used on precisely one phone: the Nokia N9, before the Finnish phone-smiths pulled the plug. Hands on: Jolla Phone review Some of the people behind MeeGo weren't ready to abandon it though, so they jumped ship, formed a new company called Jolla, raised an impressive £160 million and got to work on Sailfish OS, taking many of the ideas from MeeGo with them. Not a button in sight So why should you care about Sailfish OS? Well, it's largely open source for one thing, and not open source in the way Android is where most of the development is done behind closed doors, but truly open, allowing the public to see much of what Jolla is doing and use the code for their own purposes. It also has a user interface that's quite different from any of the competition. It starts with the homescreen, which rather than showing static app icons instead gives you a window to all your open apps, and lets you switch between them or interact with them with a swipe, taking multitasking to a level not really seen on other phone OS's. For example, if you have the phone app open on the homescreen a swipe one way will reveal the dialer and the opposite way will show you your contacts. But each app icon also shows live information, so for example the music player might show what track is playing. In many ways it's a mix of BlackBerry 10's homescreen layout, Windows Phone 8's live tiles and Android's widgets all in one. As you might have guessed from all that, it's also a very gesture based OS. You can access the app drawer with a swipe up from the homescreen, get back by swiping from one side to the other when in an app or close it down by sliding your digit from top to bottom. You can also check your social network updates and other notifications without interrupting what you're doing by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, quickly access options that are relevant to the screen you're on by accessing the 'Pulley Menu' with a downwards swipe from the centre of the screen and wake the phone up from sleep by double tapping anywhere on the screen. It's a system which cuts down on buttons and menus and gives you access to just about everything from any app or screen. In fact there are no physical or virtual home, back, menu or search buttons. Being able to carry out different actions with just a swipe also makes it much easier to use one-handed than other mobile operating systems and could potentially help it stand out on larger handsets and tablets where two-handed use has been all but essential up to now. A colourful history Custom colours Sailfish OS also puts a lot of focus on visual customisation, allowing you to change the colour of the interface to match the colours of whatever background image you're using and the colour change is applied not just to the home screen but also to the apps themselves. It's an idea which Jolla has taken even further by releasing smart covers for its first Sailfish OS phone (also called Jolla). By putting a different coloured cover on the phone you'll get access to a matching wallpaper, theme and even sound effects. Each backplate is equipped with NFC, so the handset will be able to automatically communicate with it and detect which colour shell your phone has, changing the theme accordingly. There's a lot of marketing potential here for companies, as there's already an Angry Birds backplate for example, which not only shows off the brand to anyone looking at your phone but even alters the phones UI to act as a constant reminder that you haven't launched any birds off catapults in the last half hour. The cases can even add new functionality to the phone, for example there's one made by iProtoxi which has a light up Jolla logo, which can change colour to alert you to calls and texts, then let you answer by swiping across it or mute the call by holding your hand over it. Android compatible All of which is great, but a smartphone OS lives and dies by its app selection. This is an area where an upstart couldn't hope to compete right? Maybe not. Because Sailfish OS doesn't just have access to its own apps, it can also run Android apps from various app stores (though not Google Play unsurprisingly). So it instantly has access to a huge library of applications, in the same way Nokia is doing with the Nokia X family. Even so, it's still likely to be a tough sell to get manufacturers to actually release phones with Sailfish OS on when most people are buying iOS and Android, and as good as being compatible with Android apps is, especially in the developing markets where Sailfish is initially being targeted, it's not a patch on the proper Google Play store in users' minds. But not as tough a sell as you might think, because as well as being able to run Android apps it's also compatible with Android hardware, meaning that manufacturers can just load the OS onto hardware that they'd otherwise be shipping with Android. That makes things a lot quicker and cheaper for manufacturers and might make them more likely to take a chance on Sailfish OS, even if they only release the handsets in small numbers at first. So far that hasn't particularly panned out, because there's only one Sailfish OS phone and it's made by Jolla. It's also not the easiest thing in the world to get hold of as it's currently only sold in Finland, though it can be ordered SIM free from Jolla's site and shipped anywhere in the EU. Unlike anything else It's early days though and with its compatibility with Android apps and hardware you could argue Sailfish OS has a lot going for it. To stand out it needs to do more than just emulate Android of course, but its UI is genuinely quite different to anything else out there, as our preview with the first handset found. In fact Jolla's slogan is 'Unlike', a suggestion that the company doesn't see Sailfish OS as just another mobile operating system, but as something that will provide a different experience. Its gesture based interactions are a great example of how different it is and they offer a potentially faster, more natural way to interact with a smartphone than what we've become used to. It's a good looking operating system too, with a slick, colourful UI and attractive teardrop shaped icons. So Sailfish OS ticks a lot of boxes, but it's still got to build consumer interest which won't be easy and could be the first hurdle that blocks any kind of success outside of Finland. With only one handset currently available and even that one not all that widely released it's a long way off challenging even BlackBerry, let alone Android, iOS or Windows Phone. But the Android handset compatibility makes sense from a business perspective, and Jolla has also got Sailfish running on Android devices and plans to release a flashable version of the OS online,. With cajoling current users of Google's OS in mind, Jolla has even made an app that simulates the OS, so Android users can try it out for themselves at no cost, thereby spreading the OS further and faster than would be possible if it relied purely on hardware sales. Its Android implementation still needs work, as Android apps on the Jolla can be a bit unstable, while getting Sailfish running on Android handsets requires some optimising for different devices and right now it's a little buggy. But Jolla will presumably be working hard to smooth out the Android experience in future updates. Sailfish OS is versatile enough that it could also find its way into tablets, PC's, smart televisions and more, so ultimately it could become a household name if the public and brands suddenly find an appetite for a more malleable OS that puts innovation more easily in their hands. The more ecosystems on the market the better, as that leads to choice when choosing a new smartphone and tablet - so if Jolla manages to convince enough manufacturers to take a punt on this alternative OS, it could be an option for your next smartphone... or perhaps the one after that. Sailfish looks promising, but so does Tizen. Blip: Apple product in 'only okay' shocker Feb 27th 2014, 16:33, by Kate Solomon You might want to sit down for this one: the man in charge of marketing the original iPhone has branded it - THE iPHONE - "okay", going as far as to call it "not a great phone." I know. This is big. Guys, this is huge. All Apple products are, we've been led to believe, resolutionary! magical! unbelievable! funnerer! Are you seriously telling us that the original iPhone was NOT worthy of all that hyperbole, Bob Borchers? Well. We just don't know what to believe any more. More blips We'll never go back on blips. Steve Jobs memorial statue unveiled to the sound of the internet saying, 'WTF?' iStamp - Steve Jobs postage stamps coming next year Social media lie detector will call BS on spurious online rumours In Depth: Super AMOLED vs Super LCD: top smartphone screens compared Feb 27th 2014, 14:50, by James Rogerson The technology explained Super AMOLED and Super LCD are two of the best and most popular screen technologies currently in use on phones, and are the display tech of choice for two of the most popular Android phones around. HTC for example, packed its One flagship with a Super LCD screen (in fact, it's one of the biggest customers of the tech by some way) while Samsung not only uses Super AMOLED, the company actually created it. But what's the difference between them? And which is better? Super AMOLED To understand Super AMOLED you first need to understand its origins. It started with OLED, which stands for 'organic light-emitting diode' and consists of a thin organic film with electrodes at either side. As soon as an electric current is applied to the film it emits light. AMOLED is an 'active-matrix organic light-emitting diode'. It adds a layer of semiconducting film behind the OLED panel which allows it to more quickly activate each pixel. That increased speed makes it ideal for larger, higher definition displays with a lot of pixels. In fact it's as much as 1000 times faster than LCD. AMOLED screens also tend to have great contrast, as the light on the screen comes from each individual pixel rather than a backlight; when it needs to create a black colour it simply dims or turns off the relevant pixels, for a true, deep black. AMOLED screens also use a large colour gamut, so they can display a wide range of colours, but that can also cause images to look very vibrant or over-saturated. Other advantages of AMOLED screens are that they have wide viewing angles and can even be made transparent or flexible, which makes them ideal for the curved handsets which are starting to hit the market, such as the Samsung Galaxy Round. An AMOLED touchscreen usually has an extra, touch sensitive layer on top of the screen, but with Super AMOLED Samsung has been able to integrate touch sensitivity into the screen itself. The result of this is that not only is the screen thinner, lighter, more touch sensitive and less power-hungry, but without that extra layer it's also far less reflective than a typical AMOLED screen, making it easier to view in bright sunlight. On the other hand Super AMOLED screens are quite susceptible to image burn in and sometimes use a PenTile matrix with fewer subpixels than their LCD companions, which can potentially lead to less sharp images or give the screen an unnatural colour tint. Samsung obviously has a lot of faith in Super AMOLED, as the company uses it in its latest flagship (the Samsung Galaxy S5) as well as most other phones in the Galaxy S range, but it's also developed variations on the technology. For example there's Super AMOLED Plus, which was used in the Samsung Galaxy S2 and has a standard RGB matrix rather than a PenTile matrix, meaning it has 50% more subpixels and therefore delivers clearer images, but it also degrades faster than a Super AMOLED display, which is why Samsung stopped using it in its flagships. Then there's HD Super AMOLED, which is just a 720 x 1280 Super AMOLED display and Full HD Super AMOLED, which, you guessed it, is Full HD 1080 x 1920. Super LCD Just as AMOLED was the predecessor to Super AMOLED, LCD was the predecessor to Super LCD. Unlike an AMOLED display which lights each pixel individually, an LCD (or liquid crystal display) has a backlight, so the whole screen is lit to some extent, even supposedly black areas. It uses liquid crystals which are manipulated via electrical charges to cover or not cover pixels as needed, thereby letting more or less light through, but it can never deliver true blacks as the backlight is always on. In standard LCD displays there's an air gap between the outer glass and the display element, but with Super LCD that gap is removed, which has similar benefits to Super AMOLED. Glare is reduced, making it more easily viewable when outside and in bright sunlight, plus the screen is also thinner and uses less power than standard LCD. The power consumption of a Super LCD screen is particularly low when displaying lighter colours, which makes it ideal for web browsing for example as websites tend to have white backgrounds. The opposite is true with Super AMOLED, where blacks consume less power as the pixels don't have to be lit. Things get a bit more complicated when you consider that there's also such a thing as Super LCD2 and Super LCD3, but really each numbered version is just an improvement on the last while working in much the same way. Super LCD3 for example is brighter than Super LCD2, as well as having better viewing angles and a faster refresh rate to avoid blurring when watching videos. Super showdown: Galaxy S4 vs HTC One Super showdown So those are the differences on paper, but you can't always equate that to real world performance. With that in mind we've put two of the best examples of each display type head to head to see which comes out on top. In the Super LCD corner we have the HTC One and in the Super AMOLED corner there's the Samsung Galaxy S4. Why not the Samsung Galaxy S5? Simply because we haven't had enough time with it to properly compare it to the HTC One, though side by side with the Galaxy S4 it had superior colour reproduction, brightness and movies looked better on it. The first thing to note is that while both screens are bright, the HTC One (and Super LCD screens in general) is much brighter than the Samsung Galaxy S4 with its Super AMOLED screen. In fact the HTC One can manage 500 nits of light output, while the Galaxy S4 can only manage around 300 nits. The upshot of that is that the HTC One fares a little better outdoors and in bright environments, as the screen is clearer and colours are less distorted. On the flip side though the Samsung Galaxy S4 has far better contrast as it can produce true blacks. It also has richer colours and the difference is particularly noticeable in dark environments. To keep it simple you could say that the HTC One's screen tends to perform better than the Galaxy S4's when outdoors and the Samsung Galaxy S4's is better when indoors. The Galaxy S4 also has wider viewing angles than the HTC One, though the HTC One has more natural colours than the Samsung Galaxy S4, which tends to over-saturate things a little. The S4's display is also likely to consume less battery power, because it doesn't have a backlight, but OLEDs burn out over time so the HTC One is likely to have more legs before the screen starts to wear out. To be clear though none of the differences are earth shattering. Other factors affect a phone's battery life and durability more than the display type. The HTC One might not have as good viewing angles or contrast as the Samsung Galaxy S4 but it's still pretty good for both, while the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is good at avoiding reflections means that it still fares pretty well outside despite not having as bright a screen. Also colours are far more natural on the S4 than on some earlier Super AMOLED handsets, and they seem better still on the Galaxy S5. Ultimately, the incredible contrast and rich colours of the Samsung Galaxy S4 seals the win for it, as the extra brightness of the HTC One isn't likely to be as useful as often. While the HTC One's colours are more natural the difference is minor, especially as the Galaxy S4 has multiple colour profiles to choose from to alter the intensity of the colour saturation, while you're stuck with just the one on HTC's phone. Does that mean that Super AMOLED is better than Super LCD? Not necessarily. On paper we'd argue that Super AMOLED is slightly superior but really it depends on your own preferences. Do you favour brightness or contrast? Vivid colours or natural ones? And even then each handset will have its own display quirks or be calibrated differently, regardless of the technology used. Phone screens are a minefield of different technologies with their own strengths and drawbacks, but at least now you'll be better equipped to navigate it. There's more to screens than AMOLED and LCD. Get up to scratch with our display tech explanations. In Depth: Beyond Spotify: the experts' vision for the future of music listening Feb 27th 2014, 10:11, by Marc Chacksfield Spotify and streaming The Top 40 will soon be going through the biggest change in its history when streaming is counted towards a song's chart position. Every chart change before now has been predominantly about sales: from vinyl to tape to CD and then download, each of these constituted a purchase. Streaming is, for obvious reasons, a whole different story. The purchase is the subscription and it is then up to the service to divvy those fees up among labels. This means that there will have to be some serious working out as to how many streams are the equivalent of a sale. The mere fact that it is being considered, though, is a big step towards confirming what many music listeners already know: streaming is the future of music. Or at least it will be if someone actually creates a model that works. Cash rules everything around me Spotify has shown that streaming can be embraced by the masses but there is a problem. If streaming is indeed the future of music, then more money needs to start flowing more freely. The current lack of cash – Spotify is yet to turn a profit – isn't yet stifling innovation but it has left many in the industry scratching their heads as to what to try next. At the Music 4.5 Music In-App Economy conference in London, we tried to find out what was going to make the money needed to sustain streaming - but to understand what is happening at the moment, you have to go back a few years to see what went wrong. Martin Kummer, head of digital channels and group marketing at Ministry of Sound, is well versed in how the music landscape has changed, particularly when it comes to mobile as he was once head of music at Vodafone. Speaking at the event he noted that it was while in the mobile space that he found out first hand what could go wrong with streaming. "Vodafone 360 and Nokia Comes With Music were streaming services that just didn't work," he said. "It was wrong decisions and arrogance that caused failure." The reason he offered for the lack of success is an interesting one - both failed to balance the needs of the music listener with those of the big telecommunication companies. "Nokia wanted people to pay for Comes With Music but as this was taking money away from the telcos and pushing it to the handset manufacturer it all ended in tears. Only Apple has managed to make this work so far." Skip to today and streaming looks a lot healthier but Kummer believes that much more needs to be done. "We only have three dominant music services but no viable business model. Spotify is six years in the game and there is still no profit yet," he warned. The Ministry of Sound has been stung when it comes to streaming, so it is no wonder Kummer is not full of praise for the technology. Back in 2013, the dance label launched a lawsuit against Spotify because it felt that the service's playlist features harmed its brand because you could essentially create playlists of Ministry of Sound album tracklists. At the time, Ministry of Sound chief executive Lohan Presencer said, "After 20 years and more than 50m album sales, the value and creativity in our compilations are self evident... Until now, we've watched Spotify's progress from a distance. But we can no longer remain silent." An out of court settlement has now been reached between the two companies, with Spotify agreeing to stop the playlists coming up in search. Kummer didn't comment on the Spotify situation at the time but did admit that the Ministry of Sound will have to do something with streaming services in general in the future. "We have to work with the Spotifies," he said. "I can't go into more detail but this will happen. We all know that streaming is not going away, so it is coming." Crosstown traffic Music isn't just pushing towards streaming as the main way to listen, though, it's gearing more towards mobile devices too. Marcus Taylor, CEO of Venture Harbour, a digital marketing agency for music and film, says that mobile is by far the fastest growing sector for streaming. "Mobile adoption within the music industry is growing exponentially. Music news sites are seeing 50% of all traffic coming from mobile, with 25% to streaming clients and artist-own services getting around 22% of traffic," said Taylor. "We are seeing mobile campaigns massively outperforming our desktop campaigns - people are happier buying things from mobile devices." Much of the conference was taken up with talk of Spotify and while the streaming site looks like it will rule for some time to come, there are some services happy to chip away at niches and even use Spotify's API to enhance what they are offering. Shuffler.fm, a music opinion aggregator, is one such service that has offered up an app on Spotify, as well as made its service available through Sonos. Its chief marketing officer, Steve O'Reilly, was upbeat about the future of music, believing that as long as you have a sound product and bigger services are willing to share their APIs then artists and fans will more than benefit. "There has to be an artist and app relationship," said O'Reilly. "Bands really want to be able to send fans content and that is what Shuffler.fm can offer. "We didn't need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to apps, we just made sure we have integration with all the big companies and could make apps within minutes. Access to these APIs made it all possible for us." Spotify's new rivals In Bloom If you are going to tackle Spotify head-on, though, you need a game plan. Bloom.fm is one service that thinks it has got this. Its idea is that instead of restricting parts of the service through subscriptions, it merely restricts the number of songs that can be downloaded on to a device. Launched in 2013 Bloom.fm is mobile only and currently offers subs from £1 a month, where a user can download 20 songs to their phone to listen to, changing the songs as many times as you like within the month - as long as you adhere to the 20-song download limit. "There is a $25bn app economy at the moment and we need to get people paying for content even if it is a small amount," said Thong Nguyen, co-founder of Bloom. "We need to make products that are useful to people. Restricting things is crazy – we chose to restrict the amount of tracks and not the amount of time they can listen to these tracks. We are competing against free and illegal services, we have to remember this. You have to make it easy for people to pay." With the music industry in such a state of flux, it does feel that another company can come in to disrupt things once more. Whether this is an app like Bloom remains to be seen but there is thinking that a company much bigger may well change the music landscape as we know it. That company is Google. It's not yet revealed what it is going to do with YouTube background listening on mobiles, but when this does come into force there is no doubting that it will change things - or at least ruffle a few feathers. "Background listening will change YouTube from a discovery service to a consumption service," said Ministry of Sound's Martin Kummer. "Google will charge for this as the premium tier is usually mobile - the only one that isn't like that is Sounddrop." How this will work with Google Play Music is not yet known. But with the whole industry watching, it will be interesting to find out. Discover how Spotify helps you discover music

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions