| BlackBerry wins ban on Typo case that gave iPhone users a slice of qwerty life Mar 29th 2014, 14:49, by Chris Smith 
BlackBerry has won a court order banning the sale of an iPhone keyboard case that mimicked its patented qwerty design. The $99 (£60, AU$109) Typo keyboard case added a couple of extra inches to an iPhone, but provided a physical keyboard experience that's a little too close to the one BlackBerry pioneered, according to a judge. U.S. District Judge William Orrick said similarities between the case and BlackBerry's IP were "unmistakeable" and that Typo was deliberately targeting smartphone users who prefer qwerty action. "BlackBerry has convincingly shown that BlackBerry's keyboard designs are a key driver of demand and goodwill for BlackBerry phones," the judge wrote in ordering a temporary sales ban. Bold statementTypo, which is made by American Idol host Ryan Seacreast's company Typo Products LLC, had failed to make a convincing case that its designs were not infringing on BlackBerry patents, the judge said. The company plans to appeal the order and told Bloomberg Businessweek it would "continue to make and sell innovative products that busy people can't live without." The court victory will come as a small ray of sunshine by the Canadian smartphone company, following its grim first quarter earnings report, released on Friday. The beleaguered firm also announced plans to bring back the classic BlackBerry Bold, which bares that "unmistakably" similar physical qwerty keyboard.        |  | ZTE Grand S II could hit a memory milestone with 4GB of RAM Mar 28th 2014, 21:04, by Michael Rougeau 
When ZTE unveiled the Grand S II at CES 2014 it was said to have a 2.3 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 and 2GB of RAM, but it seems those specs may have been upgraded in the interim. The ZTE phone recently passed through China's equivalent of the FCC, and an online listing appeared with significantly more RAM. The site lists the Grand S II with 4GB of memory, and if it's accurate then the next ZTE flagship will be the first smartphone with that much RAM. MemoriesThe Grand S II may be pushing up against the ceiling for mobile RAM, as 4GB is the max that can fit onto the 32-bit processors that most smartphones use. Late in 2013 it was rumored that Samsung's Galaxy S5 would come packing a 64-bit chip, but that rumor has yet to pan out. Besides the Snapdragon and the maybe-upgraded RAM, the ZTE Grand S II packs a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a 13-megapizel camera, a 3,000 mAh battery, and Android 4.3: Jelly Bean.        | | Power trip: Google requires 'powered by Android' mention on boot-up Mar 28th 2014, 19:18, by Chris Smith -470-75.JPG)
Smartphone manufacturers suckling on the teat of Google's open source Android software must now give the creator supreme some credit if it wishes to continue using the operating system's key apps. According to Geek.com, Google has thrown down a mandate requiring mobile makers to feature the words 'powered by Android' on the boot up screen in exchange for access to the Google Mobile Services suite. The GMS stable of course includes essential services like the Google Play Store, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, You Tube and the rest of those created by the hard-working folks at Mountain View. Those who choose not to give the Devil his due won't have access the core Google apps, kind of like the Amazon Kindle Fire range. Whipping 'em into shapeThe report comes after eagle-eyed reporters spotted the 'powered by Android message when powering up the new HTC One (M8) following its launch earlier this week. It also appears on the new Samsung Galaxy S5's boot-up screen. A document sent by Google to Android manufacturers says the boot screen logo must be given "appropriate clear space" and it is advised that the logo takes up no less than 40% of the width of the screen. Judging by this move it appears that Google is once again attempting to whip Android device makers into shape rather than giving them a completely free hand to use the software as they wish. Earlier this year, the company upped its efforts to do away with fragmentation by refusing to grant GMS approval for phones running on older version of the software.        | | BlackBerry bets big on bringing back the Bold, beefing up BB Mar 28th 2014, 18:59, by Michael Rougeau 
BlackBerry CEO John Chen capped off the company's latest earnings call with the news that he's bringing back the BlackBerry Bold. That means, among other things, that the BlackBerry 7 OS isn't quite dead yet. Previously the company focused all its efforts on the newer BlackBerry 10, but with Chen in charge it seems BlackBerry won't let the past go just yet. The QWERTY-equipped BlackBerry Bold was one of the most popular BlackBerry models globally, so putting it back into production might be just the thing to juice up BB's comeback effort. Desktop BBMIn related news, it seems BlackBerry is also considering bringing BlackBerry Messenger to desktop platforms. There was a time when BBM was exclusive to BlackBerry devices, but that era ended when BBM arrived on iOS and Android in 2013. A Windows Phone version is imminent as well. Now it seems the messaging app might jump to Windows, OS X and maybe even Linux, according to Chen, who told Reuters that the company is "going to take a very serious look at putting BBM on the desktop." Moving forwardBlackBerry's quarterly results could have been worse, Chen admitted. The Canadian company posted a loss of $423 million (about £254m, AU$457m), but Chen said he's "very pleased" with BlackBerry's progress. In more BlackBerry news, Chen said the rumored BlackBerry Z3 will launch globally after a soft launch in Indonesia in April, and that the "classic" BlackBerry Q20 may be ready for a Q1 2015 release.        | | Windows Phone 8.1-running Lumia makes possible video debut Mar 28th 2014, 18:22, by Chris Smith 
The Nokia Lumia 630 expected to be one of the first handsets to arrive packing the Windows Phone 8.1 software has reportedly made an unscheduled appearance in a hands on video. Follow several purported still image leaks ahead of the rumoured launch during Microsoft Build next week, the Lumia 630 has apparently been captured courtesy of Coolxap. Unfortunately the video looks like it was shot by J.J. Abrams being chased by the Cloverfield monster, but it still gives us our clearest indication yet of what we can expect from Microsoft's forthcoming OS bump. If you can avoid motion sickness, the clip below shows the improved Windows Phone UI, the new Action Centre notifications screen and the revamped camera interface. UpgradeThe Lumia 630 is set to be a major upgrade over the Lumia 620, with a 4.5-inch 854 x 480 screen display, a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB RAM tipped in previous leaks. Although the video below shows the a black prototype model, it is expected to launch in a range of bright colours. The handset could also be joined by a new high-end model, with the Lumia 930 also rumoured to be arriving at Build, which kicks off in the first week of April. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9njETlMggw       | | Fighting Talk: Why on Earth is Samsung making the Galaxy S5 Zoom? Mar 28th 2014, 18:05, by Phil Lavelle 
The term camera phone is a misnomer. it should be a phone camera, defining the bit of the handset that lets in light and then stores what it's seen. A camera phone is something entirely different: a camera that can also double as a phone, and something that you'd struggle to work out why you'd ever need. But Samsung didn't just try to solve the problem - it came at it from two angles: the Galaxy S4 Zoom, which was an S4 mini with a whopping lens stuck on the back. And the Galaxy Camera, which was a (pretty decent) snapper that packed a SIM card to give you the full Android experience. Confusing? Yes. More so when you consider I've never seen anyone use the former, and only a couple of tourists packing the latter. And Samsung's about to release a new version of its camera phone! The S5 Zoom. "Tumbleweed" is all I can say to that. Given the effort made by Samsung to actually make the S4 Zoom, let alone refresh it, I've been racking my brains, opening and slamming the filing cabinets in my head shut to think of a time when I've heard anyone express an interest in it. In fact, the only time I have ever seen the Galaxy S4 Zoom being used is in an electronics store, when a punter fingers one suspiciously. And every time they do the same thing.. follow the same procedure: They pick it up, they feel it, have a play, then get their own smartphone out, compare the size, place the Galaxy back in its cradle and wander off, proud they didn't force an oversized handset into their pocket for the next 24 months. Blurred linesThe whole point in camera phones is that they should be convenient. Why does the majority of the social media world post pictures and videos from its phones? Because they're always in your pocket - and fit it in too. It's not rocket science. It's easy. So if you're going somewhere special - a wedding or a christening - somewhere you know you'll need a proper camera, you take that, not a small little companion device. What's the point? Your iPhone 5S or Galaxy S4 is already the point and shoot in your pocket. Which means for those who want serious photos... those with the cash, they're going to have themselves a DSLR or something fancy. Not a little companion brick. It's too much of a compromise. Flash in the panI can see why Samsung's releasing the Galaxy Zoom line. It's for the same reason it releases so many devices: because it can. Sure, it probably brings in a few dollars to justify its existence, and shows the brand has aspirations to be a big player in the 'proper' camera market, but let's not forget - this is not a flagship device. Samsung's strategy couldn't be further than Apple's. it doesn't concentrate on a few key niche products, it just chucks out a device for every conceivable market and micro-market and hopes for the best. You could go on Mastermind with Samsung's various model lines as your chosen field of knowledge, there are that many of the damn things. The Galaxy S5 is a phone that's being met with eager anticipation. The Galaxy S5 Zoom is not. Samsung should save the money it would have spent making it, and put that towards uncovering the next generation of camera phones that bring stellar performance in a slimline package. Nokia's Lumia 1020 is a nod towards this, but there's definitely another generation to be found. So come on Samsung, focus. You've got some great ideas, but if you're going to make a dedicated camera phone, make it awesome - not just two devices stuck together.        | | BlackBerry CEO happy with progress despite loss Mar 28th 2014, 16:50, by Dean Wilson 
BlackBerry's Chairman and CEO, John Chen, has said he is "very pleased" with the progress the ailing company is making, despite a quarterly loss of $423 million (£254 million, AU$457 million). The Canadian smartphone firm, which once ruled the smartphone market and still has a sizeable chunk of the business sector, brought in just $976 million (£586 million, AU$1 billion) in revenue for the three months ending on March 1. The loss for the same period is substantial, amounting to 8 cents per share wiped out, but it is a lot less than analyst predictions, which saw as much as 55 cents per share on the chopping block. Painful progressAs BlackBerry attempts to compete with Google's Android and Apple's iOS, both of which have been encroaching on its core business market, it has looked to restructuring to reduce losses. Among the options on the table are the sale of some of the company's real estate, like its recently ditched US headquarters, as well as a whopping 40 per cent reduction in its workforce. Despite the grim figures and even grimmer path ahead, Chen is optimistic about the company's progress and future "I am very pleased with our progress and execution in fiscal Q4 against the strategy we laid out three months ago. We have significantly streamlined operations, allowing us to reach our expense-reduction target one quarter ahead of schedule," Chen said in an interview with The Toronto Star. Via International Business Times        | | HTC One (M8) Mini is on the way, one carrier claims Mar 28th 2014, 16:41, by JR Bookwalter 
Sure, it's only been three days since HTC officially took the wraps off its latest flagship smartphone, but that's plenty of time for rumors of a more diminutive model to start percolating. Unwired View spotted a curious news item on Swedish Android website Swedroid that appears to confirm HTC's plans to follow up this week's HTC One (M8) launch with a similar handset in a smaller package. This so-called HTC One (M8) Mini wouldn't exactly come as a surprise, given how the Taiwanese manufacturer released both smaller and larger variations of last year's flagship HTC One handset. That would make the second such internet confirmation this week of an M8 Mini, following a tweet from @evleaks on March 25 that spouted, "M8 mini: Check" mere hours after HTC took the wraps off the midrange model. M8, the sequel?A product listing for an HTC "M8 mini" popped up in a blog post on the website of carrier Telia, which announced which devices would support improved HD Voice technology on its Swedish airwaves. Although the post now only lists smartphone models from Apple, LG, Nokia, Samsung and others, an earlier version apparently included a list of HTC devices, including the rumored "M8 mini" tucked away just below the just-launched M8. There's no indication yet of just what specs might power such an HTC One (M8) Mini, beyond the likely assumption that the device will indeed be smaller than this year's flagship handset. For now, we'd say comparing the differences between last year's HTC One and HTC One Mini models will probably give some pretty good clues as to what can be expected - and don't act surprised when HTC eventually queues up an HTC One (M8) Max down the road as well. We're just sayin'....        | | Updated: Samsung Galaxy S5 release date: where can I get it? Mar 28th 2014, 16:05, by Kate Solomon and Hugh Langley 
The Samsung Galaxy S5 release date is set for April 11 2014, and the UK's networks are clamouring to sell you the latest must-have flagship. But where exactly should you queue and what funds should you have available in your bank account when you do? One retailer is listing the Samsung Galaxy S5 UK price as £549.98 (having dropped it from £599.98) if you opt for a SIM-free handset, and information about other network deals is starting to trickle in. We've rounded up all the information available for you and will keep this page updated - the only question now is what colour should you get? SamsungThe Galaxy S5 is now available for pre-order from Samsing itself, two weeks ahead of its April 11 release date. You'll can go to pre-order the Galaxy S5 online, from selected retailers and from Samsung's Experience Store in Stratford Westfield, London. Samsung's selling the handset in four colours SIM-free for £649 EEIf you're looking to go with EE then you can pre-order the S5 on a £37.99 per month deal with a £59.99 upfront handset cost. And if you jump on that tariff before the big April 11 launch date, you'll get double the amount of data, taking it up to 4GB. You can go check out all of EE's options right here. O2O2's offering the S5 on pay monthly Refresh and PAYG tariffs. Deals start at £38 per month with 4G and an upfront cost of £69.99. Jump straight onto a £49 per month contract though and you'll get the handset for free. VodafoneCue the deja vu - it's also coming to Vodafone, and you can go pre-order it right this minute over on the website. Got an old Samsung galaxy phone to hand? Trade it in and you'll be able to get the S5 for free from £37 on a Red 3G plan. As for the 4G options, the phone starts at £47 a month (for 3GB of data) with a £19 upfront cost for the handset itself. Virgin MediaThe other big red network has announced its deals for the S5, revealing that it'll be available for TV, broadband and home phone customers from just £29 a month when it arrives on April 11. Virgin Media customers who pick up a Samsung Galaxy S5 earn themselves a £10 monthly saving, inclusive insurance and unlimited calls and texts to other Virgin Media mobiles. As for the non-Virgins among you, Starter contracts begin at £39 per month with a £99 upfront handset cost. Right now, the site is still only letting you pre-register your interest. ThreeThree's got the flashy new handset in blue, black and white, and is offering it from £38 per month on a 24 month contract with 600 minutes, unlimited texts - and a £69 upfront handset cost. Phones 4UHead over to Phones 4U and you can pre-order the S5, with 4G prices kicking off at £47 a month with a free handset, or you can go SIM-free for £569.95 if that's more your thing. You can only order it in black on the site right now though. Phone 4U also told us that anyone who pre-orders the S5 will get a £50 Google Play voucher, and the first 1000 will get a free Tab 3. Carphone WarehouseCarphone has all its deals up on the interwebs right now. All four colours of the phone are available and you'll pay £569.95 for the phone SIM-free. You can also grab it on a range of networks, with 4G prices kicking off at £42 per month. SIM-freeUnlocked Mobiles has opened its pre-orders for the Galaxy S5, and it's dropped the price from the original £599.98 to £549.98, bringing it in line with the Sony Xperia Z2. The expected delivery date is still April 11. You can also pre-order the Galaxy S5 at Expansys, which is asking £559.99 for the phone, while Clove is offering it for £534.   | | Samsung Galaxy Note 3 tastes Android 4.4 at AT&T Mar 27th 2014, 23:06, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
From mini to mondo, AT&T is on an Android 4.4 roll. One day after sending the latest flavor of KitKat down to the HTC One Mini, Ma Bell is shipping 4.4 to the super-sized Samsung Galaxy Note 3. The new version of Android brings improvements to everything from the user interface to GPS performance to music and camera access. Users will be able to pick their default messaging app, utilize wireless printing and fiddle with more sounds. Galaxy Note 3 owners can grab it now by heading to the Settings menu.   | | Obama proposes end to NSA mass phone data collection Mar 27th 2014, 17:46, by JR Bookwalter 
The debate over the US government's ability to collect telephone data in bulk continues to rage, but President Obama is ready to take some clear steps to reign in the practice once and for all. In a statement posted by The White House Office of the Press Secretary, laid out further details on how he hopes to curb the National Security Agency (NSA)'s collection methods of American citizens data. Following up on a January 17 speech that promised a shift away from the current NSA policies, President Obama plans to disconnect prying government eyes from bulk data held by telephone providers. The move would effectively end the so-called "Section 215 bulk telephony metadata program," forcing government agencies to obtain data on a case-by-case basis and only by request. Legal maneuversThe move shifts control back into the hands of telephone carriers and federal judges, who can agree to access data under individual orders from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court or where "national security concerns" are at issue. "I believe this approach will best ensure that we have the information we need to meet our intelligence needs while enhancing public confidence in the manner in which the information is collected and held," the president explained the statement. Obama reached his decision after consultation with Congress, privacy and civil liberties groups as well as companies in the private sector as part of "alternative approaches" announced in January that were to be put into place by March 28. The legislation proposed today won't be in place by that deadline, but the president has directed the Department of Justice to reauthorize the existing program - with his early year modifications in place - for a period of 90 days while the government gets all its ducks in a row.   | | Sony Xperia Z2 release date still in flux as brand admits manufacture struggles Mar 27th 2014, 13:08, by Kate Solomon 
Sony has confirmed that you'll have trouble picking up a Sony Xperia Z2 in April...unless you pre-ordered the phone. Word came from retailers that the handset has been delayed until May, but Sony tells us this isn't quite the case. A spokesperson told TechRadar, "Xperia Z2 will be available in the UK during April and we are expecting to deliver to all consumers who have placed a pre-order through our key partners." Trouble aheadIt's not all good news though, because Sony does still anticipate some problems. The statement goes on to add: "We are working tirelessly to maximise stock levels in April but currently we do not expect to meet the high demand across all our sales channels." It's not clear if this is because the handset has proven more popular than Sony thought it would (unlikely) or if the company is just having trouble physically manufacturing the device. The latter seems to hold water as the culprit - Unlocked Mobile reports that the company has a "component manufacturing issue from a 3rd party who make a part for the phone", although the retailer also claimed that Sony will not release the phone until the first week of May, something Sony has now rebuffed, so it's not exactly the king of reliable information. We'll keep you posted with any new information, but if you've got your heart set on a Sony Xperia Z2 then you may want to get pre-ordering.   | | HTC One (M8) release date: where can I get it? Mar 26th 2014, 23:52, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
You've seen the leaks, you've seen the official press photos and our review, but when, where and for how much can you actually get your mitts on the HTC One (M8)? Unlike many phones (ears burning, Samsung Galaxy S5?), the HTC One (M8) is available at this very moment - you just have to know where to look. Thankfully, your pals at TechRadar have tracked down the phone's release deets and gathered it here for your reading and shopping pleasure. Tell us: are you rushing out to get the new HTC One? HTC One (M8) at VerizonVerizon was first out the gate with HTC One (M8) availability. The phone went on sale in stores and online beginning at 1 p.m. ET March 25. Customers can pick up the phone for $199.99 on a two-year contract, $25.22/month through the Verizon Edge early upgrade program, and $599.99 off-contract. HTC One (M8) at AT&TUnfortunately for all other carriers, the latest HTC One is only available in the flesh at Verizon retail locations. A customer can walk into an AT&T store and order the phone there, but it will be shipped to them, not handed to them in a crisp new box. That said, AT&T customers can find the phone online. It's priced at $199.99 with a two-year contract, $24.62/month through Next, AT&T's early upgrade program, or $32/month through Next 12. Next 12 payments are spread out over 20 months. The HTC One (M8) will be in AT&T stores - physically in them - by April 11. HTC One (M8) at SprintSo far Sprint has stayed relatively silent on the M8 front, but users can purchase the smartphone online. It's going for the standard $199.99 on a two-year agreement, or $27.09/month for 24 months on the company's Easy Pay & Framily plans. Off-contract you can snag the phone for $649.99. The carrier too will have the HTC One (M8) in stores by April 11. HTC One (M8) at T-MobileThe Un-carrier is getting in on the M8 act, but unlike the others, the smartphone isn't available online at the moment. What's more, on HTC's own order page, only AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Unlocked and Developer editions are up for sale. A press release from the carrier notes the HTC One (M8) "will be available to purchase online and in participating retail stores on April 11," and a spokesperson for the carrier confirmed the release date for both avenues. The phone will retails for $0 and 24 monthly payments of $26.50, amounting to total price of $636. HTC One (M8) Google Play, Unlocked and developer editionsIf you're looking to skip the whole carrier route, you're in luck. HTC is selling a Google Play edition of the M8, available to order now and shipping in the next 2-3 weeks. The 32GB phone, contract-free, costs $699. Over on htc.com, customers can pick up an Unlocked or developer version for $649.99.   | |
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