Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 03-12-2014

TechRadar: Phone and communications news TechRadar US latest feeds

Join Delanceyplace Sign up to receive a free quote from a non fiction book every weekday. From our sponsors

Paym is the new mobile payment system on the block Mar 12th 2014, 14:46, by Alex Hamilton The Payments Council, the organisation that sets strategy for UK payment mechanisms, has confirmed the name of a new secure way to pay using just a mobile phone number. The new method will be called Paym, and will be integrated into customer's existing mobile banking or payment apps. At its launch (the data of which will be announced in April) nine bank and building societies will adopt the method. Customers will be able to register their mobile number and select the account they wish to use before the service goes live. The new system, the Payment Council claims, will be the largest and most wide-ranging service for moving funds without an account number or sort code. Easy, simple payments The system will be expanded further in 2014, with other banks being added to the original nine, meaning that Paym will be available on more than nine out of 10 current accounts. If a Paym user finds their mobile phone is lost or stolen and is concerned that that someone could access their account, they can ask their bank or building society to suspend service from that phone. "Paym is a mobile update for payments that means you can pay securely using just a mobile number," said Adrian Kamellard, chief executive of the Payments Council. "Paym will make it easier to repay a friend for cinema tickets, split a restaurant bill or settle up for a colleague's birthday collection." Businesses should consider the benefits of mobile payments Nokia's 'swiss roll' battery hints at bendy ambitions Mar 12th 2014, 12:04, by Hugh Langley and John McCann We've had the Samsung Galaxy Round and LG G Flex, and now Nokia might be lining up a flexible device onslaught after filing a patent for a rollable battery. The Finnish company's new design, spotted in a patent filing by Nokia Power User, looks like a swiss roll in the way it wraps around itself. Annotations point towards the battery's bend and twist capabilities, while the texts notes "the flexible battery 10 may be used in a multi-function portable electronic device." Rollin' rollin' rollin' The design looks similar to the foldable battery Nokia also patented last year, but less rigid. The new patent description clearly hints that Nokia is looking at how the smartphone space is changing and what it needs to do to keep up. Nokia isn't limiting the options of its new battery technology to just the wearable sector though - an area of the market it is yet to launch itself into. The patent reads: "Various embodiments of the invention could be used in any suitable type of portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a gaming device, a music player, a notebook computer, or a personal digital assistant, for example." TechRadar's early verdict on the Nokia X Smartphones to ring up 10 billion contactless payments by 2018 Mar 12th 2014, 11:25, by Stu Robarts The number of transactions completed using mobile handsets will reach 10 billion annually by 2018, according to a report by Juniper Research. The figure will represent at total growth of over 330 per cent from 3 billion in the four year period from 2014. The company's Mobile Contactless Payments: NFC, iWallet & Host Card Emulation 2014-2018 report suggests that Host Card Emulation (HCE), which uses an app instead of a secure element for near field communication (NFC) payments, and the launch of Apple's iWallet, will prove significant factors in the growth of mobile contactless payments. The iWallet has yet to be officially confirmed by Apple, but the company has filed a patent for a means of secure contactless payment and the Juniper report notes that the addition of such a feature to the iPhone looks increasingly likely. Any such move by Apple would help to push the technology into the mainstream by increasing consumer awareness. Meanwhile, recent decisions by Visa and MasterCard to endorse HCE will help to drive its uptake also. Mobile operators lose out Despite the positive outlook for mobile contactless payment technology, report author Dr Windsor Holden warned network operators that they would lose out. Holden suggests that HCE technology will allow banks to roll-out their own contactless payment services using apps rather than having to partner with mobile providers. "With the emergence of HCE, the operator role at the heart of the NFC value chain is no longer sacrosanct," explained Holden. "Banks can now go it alone and as a result the scale of the operator opportunity is significantly diminished." How can NFC help SMBs? All New HTC One processor, battery subjects of latest leak Mar 12th 2014, 00:33, by Matt Swider The All New HTC One is coming into focus ahead of its suspected March 25 unveiling, and in addition to the unique dual cameras, we now have a better indication of its internal specs. For example, the follow-up to last year's HTC One is supposed to boast a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, according to a brochure obtained by GSM Arena. That's a step up from the previously rumored Snapdragon 800 chip that was thought to be powering the device and can be found in the current LG G2 and Google Nexus 5 smartphones. Also, beneath its expected 1080p 5-inch display, the New HTC One has been tipped to be packing a 2,600mAh capacity battery. Leaked specs comparison These New HTC One specs, if accurate, would be in line with its Android KitKat competition for 2014, including the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2. Both phones use a Snapdragon 801 system on a chip from Qualcomm, while the HTC One 2's 2,600mAh battery life is close to its rivals. The Galaxy S5 includes a removable 2,800mAh li-ion battery capacity, while the Xperia Z2 crams in a non-removeable 3,200mAh battery. It's unknown whether the New HTC is destined to have a removable battery, but that wasn't the case for its predecessor when it launched last year. The final interesting detail from the brochure indicates that the HTC One for 2014 will include a nano SIM card and slot vs the typical micro SIM configuration. Pair that All New HTC One with our Google Glass review UPDATED: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact crams in flagship power with a lower price Mar 11th 2014, 22:57, by John McCann and Farrha Khan Update 12 March 2014: Telstra has revealed that the Sony Xperia Z1 Compactwill be available from 18 March in black, white and pink. You'll be able to pick it up for $552 outright or on one of Telstra's new plans. Telstra will be giving customers who pre-order the handset a Sony wireless headset valued at $199.95, as well as a chance to win tickets to the 2014 FIFA World Cup as a guest of Sony. While the phone will be exclusive to Telstra for two months, other telcos and retailers are expected to range the phone from mid to late May. Original article below... 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. Read our hands on: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review 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 credentials There'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. Flappy Bird could soar again as creator says he's 'considering' a comeback Mar 11th 2014, 18:46, by Chris Smith The maker of axed smash hit mobile game Flappy Bird has hinted the addictive title could one day return to the App Store, following the self-imposed exile. Developer Dong Nyguyan removed the game last month, seemingly overwhelmed by media attention, accusations of Mario thievery and even guilt over how much time users were spending playing it. At the time, Nyguyan claimed to "hate" the game that had "ruined his simple life," but in an extensive interview with Rolling Stone, he admitted to pondering its eventual return to the nest. "I'm considering it," he told the magazine, before adding that any return would come with a "warning [to] take a break!" Addictive-yet-infuriating Since Flappy Bird went into hibernation, iOS devices with the game installed have appeared on eBay for thousands and many clones have emerged seeking to replicate the addictive-yet-infuriating experience. Those fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to possess the game are still generating massive wads of cash for the Vietnamese developer who was reportedly bringing tens of thousands in ad revenue during the game's peak. As a result, Nyguyan has quit his day job to focus on full time developing. He's got an untitled cowboy shooter, a vertical flying game called Kitty Jetpack and an "action chess game" called Checkonaught coming this month. All of the games will feature those 8-bit inspired graphics combined with extreme levels of difficulty, according to the interview. Great! There goes another sheet of Gorilla Glass! Fighting Talk: Flappy Bird proves we can all be app superstars In Depth: Best SMS text messaging apps for Android Mar 11th 2014, 17:17, by Gareth Beavis 5 great SMS alternatives to Google Hangouts It's all very exciting having the latest version of Android install itself on your mobile, but what happens when it makes changes you don't actually like? That's the situation owners of phones like the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 found themselves in recently, as Google's exciting new Android 4.4 KitKat release arrived – and forced upgraders to use Google's own Hangouts app as the default SMS app. Aside from no one really liking being told what software they have to use, the change was also a bit unsettling. The SMS tool is one of the most basic, reliable and unchanged features of any phone, with even the most backward of tech users usually able to work out how to send a simple text message. But in Hangouts? Even experienced smartphone users struggled to work out how to send a simple text. Not only that, the term 'hangout' is a dreary, predictable piece of brainstorming nonsense. So if you fancy rebelling against Google's forced use of the Hangouts app and going your own way, here are five alternative SMS apps to install and bring texting back to basics on Android. 1. Hello SMS Plenty of customisation options await in this Android SMS app, with Hello SMS letting users choose if they want a standard notification or the entire screen to light up when messages arrive. Plus there's a night mode layout option with a dark background to supposedly save your eyes and battery when texting late. The design is pretty jazzy, with a list of SMS threads down the left, plus a wider layout when viewing your texts in landscape mode. Replies are threaded, albeit in a subtle, bolded highlight way, and it's a fast, simple app to open and use. A long-press on the message icon lets you delete an entire conversation, while the attachment option is a swish combined gallery and camera app, splitting the screen between existing shots and a viewfinder for capturing and attaching live shots. View this app on the Play Store 2. Handcent SMS Handcent's been around for a long time on Android, and it shows. The design's not particularly thrilling, offering a white and blue colour scheme that looks like it's been ported from iPhone. Still, beneath the clunky layout there are absolutely stacks of features in Handcent, with this texting app letting users add doodles to messages as image files, attach screen captures of the phone's display, spellcheck messages before sending and, if you have a clear non-regional accent, input text via Google's speech-to-text tools. The sending of messages can even be scheduled, if you need to establish a watertight alibi. It's a proper hardcore texting app for people who use their 3,000 SMS allowance each month. View this app on the Play Store 3. EvolveSMS EvolveSMS goes all-out on design, with a stylish layout that incorporates a swish landscape option, multiple font and text size options, Emojis and more. A nice pop-up reply box makes responding simple, plus there's a pattern lock and the ability to set some conversations to private while leaving others unrestricted, and a choice of Home screen widgets. You can also snooze incoming text message notifications for a set period of time, in the unlikely event you've got something better to do than look at your portable telephone. And as nice as it looks, the appearance can further be amended by installing themes and other customisation packs. View this app on the Play Store 4. Textra SMS Textra bravely claims it's a "beautiful" texting app, and, if you like Android's old grey, boxy layout, it probably is. To make it less pretty there's a custom Textra Emoji plugin that can be downloaded for free, if you like expressing yourself via silly emoticons, plus there's a built-in audio recording tool, for sending people clips of you speaking when typing's too much of a chore. In terms of customisation, there's much to play with. It supports pop-up message notifications, the changing of the notification LED colour (if your phone supports it), with users also able to customise the pulsing of the notification vibration – for the ultimate in stealth text alerts. View this app on the Play Store 5. TextSecure TextSecure has a bigger selling point than the rest: security. On a basic level it restricts Android from taking screengrabs of messages, plus, if you demand more control and reassurance that the wife/government isn't reading everything you say, there's the option of locking the app down with a passphrase. And, for yet more protection, conversations between two users can be kept private with end to end encryption. In terms of customisation, TextSecure delivers some fun consumer toys, with SMS delivery report tools, LED colour and blink pattern toggles for at-a-glance notifications, enter key modification and more. View this app on the Play Store iPhone 6 may be an iPhone 5C and iPod Nano hybrid Mar 11th 2014, 17:00, by Hugh Langley Rumours are swirling that Apple's iPhone 6 is set to be a phablet-sized handset, and according to the latest insider claim, the phone will be taking some design cues from the iPod nano. The source is Japanese blog Macotakara, which has been on the money with several previous predictions, including its claim that the iPhone 5S would come with a dual LED flash. Now it reckons that Apple has chosen 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch displays as final candidates for its next two phones, and in terms of design both will be a cross between the iPhone 5C and the seventh-generation iPod nano. Criss-cross The iPod nano comes in a range of colours but also has an anodized aluminium body, so don't start panicking that Apple's going plastic for its high-ender. The sources claims that the 4.7-inch iPhone will measure 14 x 7cm and the 5.7-inch model at 16 x 8 cm. Both are said to have the same rounded back edges, volume and mute buttons as the iPhone 5C. The final detail is that the larger handset will be 7mm thick, meaning the rear camera would have to protrude slightly, however the source says the phone could still be made thicker in order to stop that being the case. While Macotakara has got a decent track record with its claims, we'd still advise a cautionary dose of salt with all of this. What do we think of Apple's colourful iPhone 5C? Android 4.4 is now rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Mar 11th 2014, 11:11, by James Rogerson Good news for Samsung fans - your shiny device is about to get better with a chocolatey dose of Android 4.4.2. The update is rolling out today for unlocked versions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3, while if you're on Three you may also be getting the update soon, as forum members on Android Central who are on the Three network have reported getting it on their Galaxy Note 3s. Incoming Android Some users already have the update while others are still waiting, so keep an eye on your phone today if you don't have it yet. There's no news on when other networks will roll out KitKat, but hopefully they'll soon follow. The update is an OTA file, with sizes ranging from 300MB to 400MB, and it brings the KitKat features you'd expect, like lock screen album art and support for native cloud printing, along with some minor visual changes such as white notification bar icons. The Galaxy S4 is old news. Check out our first thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S5. Samsung Galaxy S4 treated to Android 4.4 on T-Mobile Mar 10th 2014, 20:25, by Michael Rougeau T-Mobile just became the fourth US carrier to send the Android 4.4 KitKat update out to Samsung Galaxy S4 users. The Galaxy S4's KitKat update began rolling out to T-Mobile customers over the air today. Users can also download the smartphone management program Samsung Kies and install the update manually through their PCs. Your move, Verizon Sprint was first out of the gate with the Galaxy S4's KitKat update, followed by US Cellular and AT&T. Of the biggest US carriers, that leaves only Verizon lagging on the S4's 4.4; Big Red has yet to announce plans for the phone's OS upgrade. KitKat includes a number of improvements to Android, including speed upgrades, new productivity options and expanded Google Now functionality. Here's what TechRadar thought of the new Samsung Galaxy S5 The Tip Off: TechRadar Tip Off: Save $60 on Anker Astro3 12000mAh External Battery Charger Mar 10th 2014, 19:00, by TechRadar Tip Off Portable chargers are handy little lifesavers when you're in need of a battery boost but the larger capacity packs are usually pretty pricey. But not today! The second generation Anker Anker Astro3 12000mAh is bigger, badder and better - and only $39.99 with the code ASTRO32G used on checkout. That's a huge $60 savings for a charger with three ports that can connect iPhones, Android phones and tablets. Once you're plugged in just give the Astro3 a shake to start charging or to display its own battery level and you're all set. Get the Anker Astro3 now

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