Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 03-05-2014

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Did someone just out the prices of the Samsung Gear 2 and Gear Fit? Mar 5th 2014, 12:17, by Hugh Langley Samsung made its biggest wearable push yet at MWC 2014 by revealing three new devices – the prices of which may have just been outed. Sam Mobile claims to have the inside scoop and says we can expect to see the Samsung Gear 2 priced at €299 (which will probably end up as £299, $299), while the Gear 2 Neo and the Gear Fit will come in at €199 (again, probably £199, $199). Bearing in mind that the first Samsung Galaxy Gear launched for £299 ($299), these prices are well within the realms of possibility, but we're yet to hear anything official. Healthy margins While the Gear 2 may be priced as steeply as its predecessor, we've at least now got the Neo coming in at a more affordable point. Plus we expect we'll see Samsung continue to slash the cost of the original Gear, or remove the product entirely. But by asking the same price for the Gear Fit, Samsung will be pricing itself higher than competitors like the Nike Fuelband and Fitbit Force, which could make it a more difficult sell - even with that flexible OLED screen. We're currently waiting for a response from Samsung on the matter and will keep you updated. Are we happy with Samsung's improvements in its watch? Find out in our Gear 2 review Google working on Android KitKat fix for camera app battery drain Mar 5th 2014, 11:35, by John McCann If you've recently updated your smartphone to Android 4.4.2 KitKat and have noticed some abnormally high battery drain you're not alone - but Google is on the case. Apparently some Android handsets are seeing battery life diminish at a rate of knots after opening the camera application as a result of the phone's CPU maxing out. While Google's fix will be able to alleviate the problem on the likes of the Nexus 5 and Nexus 4, those rocking a HTC, Samsung or any other Android device with a UI skin will have to wait for the relevant manufacturer to address the issue separately. Reboot, for now There's currently no time frame on Google's fix to roll out to handsets, but it's expected to arrive as part of the Android 4.4.3 package - so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime a quick reboot of your device is said to provide a temporary solution to the excessive battery drain, but it won't fix the problem. Why are mobile phone batteries still so bad? Sapphire crystal displays slammed ahead of iPhone 6 launch Mar 5th 2014, 11:12, by John McCann Apple is looking increasingly more likely to employ sapphire crystal screen technology on the rumoured iPhone 6, and that appears to be rubbing the current leader in mobile glass up the wrong way. Tony Tripeny, executive at Corning (maker of the popular Gorilla Glass which adorns many smartphones), wasted no time highlighting sapphire's disadvantages during a Morgan Stanley Technology conference. Tripeny raised several points surrounding the negative aspect of sapphire technology, "it's about 10 times more expensive [than Gorilla Glass]. It's about 1.6 times heavier. It's environmentally unfriendly." There are also concerns about sapphire's opacity, which could potentially make the screen harder to view and Tripeny noted "it transmits less light which... means either dimmer devices or shorter battery life." Not so tough Coring reckons that its Gorilla Glass offering can also withstand more pressure than the sapphire equivalent - "about 2.5 times more pressure" in fact, although we can't put this claim to the test at the moment. Apple will be aware of the issues surrounding sapphire glass as it's already used it to cover the TouchID sensor on the iPhone 5S and protect the lens on the iPhone 5, 5C and 5S. The iPhone 6 is expected to arrive later this year so we'll have to wait and see if sapphire is the screen of choice for the Cupertino firm and whether it'll push the price of the handset up. What are sapphire screens? Analysis: Why is Microsoft trying to smuggle Windows into your Android phone? Mar 5th 2014, 10:05, by Désiré Athow For more than two decades, ever since DOS and Windows 3.1x, dual-booting has been restricted to hardcore enthusiasts who found being able to boot from one or more operating systems convenient and useful. If the presentation by Microsoft's Joe Belfiore last week in Barcelona is an indication of how the mobile market will evolve, we're about to see a comeback of dual booting with Android and Windows Phone sitting on the same phone. The push is likely to come from Microsoft for whom this might be one of the biggest punts of its long history, similar to putting Internet Explorer into Windows 95. The enemy of my enemy is my friend The gist of the later part of Belfiore's presentation is that Microsoft is working closely with hardware partners to make sure that there is little or no change needed to get a smartphone (or indeed any ARM-based devices) to run Windows Phone or Android. X86 devices like PCs, laptops and servers run Windows or Linux (or indeed MacOS X) indiscriminately and there's no reason why that shouldn't be the case for smartphones in general. This is a logical step that is likely to be more helpful to Microsoft than Android - and this tacit agreement will end up being most detrimental to Apple. How bold is too bold? It seems likely that Microsoft may encourage partners to offer dual-boot as standard on all Android smartphones by offering Windows Phone for free or for a huge discount. The cynical among us might suggest that as well as offering Windows Phone for free (or at a low cost), Microsoft will slash the fees associated with cross licensing agreements signed with scores of manufacturers of Android devices to persuade them to put Windows Phone prominently on the Android phone (perhaps on the boot screen). Either solution will cost money but would enable Microsoft to get Windows into the hands of potentially tens of millions of Android users. It will hope that they will try Windows Phone and be so enamoured of it that they eventually switch to a solely Windows Phone device or continue to use the two platforms altogether. This would help Microsoft expand the number of smartphones running Windows Phone exponentially and we might even see Microsoft-backed versions of Android without Google's services (similar to what Nokia is doing), something which would be something of an ironic move. As always though, the more competition in a market, the more likely innovation will thrive. The business allure of dual-booting So what's the point of dual-booting for consumers? Most end-users and consumers are unlikely to gain much from the exercise, depending on how dual-booting devices are pitched to the mainstream. But there is a category of users for whom this will be a godsend and that is the business/enterprise audience. Having Windows 8 Embedded or Windows Phone 8 plus Android on a sleek smartphone that can be used both for work and leisure will be an attractive proposal to some. Microsoft's mobile platform offers easy access to Office 365, Active Directory and the entire Windows ecosystem (including Xbox) and is an incredibly attractive alternative to BlackBerry. That's the theory many think Redmond will follow because the other option is to see Windows Phone stuck as the third choice after Android and iOS, and seeing numbers of shipped (but not sold) units increase over time. Piggy-backing on Google's Android is definitely not an ego-boosting move for Microsoft but it is by far the most pragmatic. It is also one that can yield great results reasonably quickly, which is what Satya Nadella needs at the moment to stamp his authority on the company. So how about that Nokia X? Should Microsoft be worried? Google Nexus 6 could be a stripped-down LG G3 Mar 5th 2014, 09:54, by Hugh Langley Google and LG are set to continue their romance through 2014, we're hearing, with word that both the Nexus 6 and the Google smartwatch will be LG-built. Gizmodo.de quotes a "business-related source" claiming that the Nexus 6 is intended to be "a lightweight" version of the LG G3, which we're expecting to arrive around the middle of the year. That's not a shocker – the LG G2 and the Nexus 5 have plenty of comparative aspects, mainly in design. What "light" means here is anyone's guess, but we'd expect it means the internals will be less powerful on Google's pure handset. Watch the horizon The other bit of information concerns Google's rumoured smartwatch, as the same source reckons that Google is working closely with LG on this one too. Take this news cautiously, but LG will reportedly build the watch, which Gizmodo is referring to as the "Google Nexus Smartwatch". While there's nothing to say if this name was provided by the source, it sounds better – and makes a lot more sense – than Google Gem, another potential moniker we've heard. Apparently Google is hoping to bring its smartwatch to market "soon", which could mean anywhere from a month to a decade really. The Google watch – the story so far... Regrets? I've had a few, says Ballmer, but buying Nokia ain't one of them Mar 5th 2014, 01:52, by Chris Smith Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told an audience at Oxford University that convincing the board to sign off on the purchase of Nokia was one of his toughest tasks, during a 14-year spell in charge. During the lengthy chat, the larger-than-life Baller, who handed over the reins to Satya Nadella last month, said snapping up a phone-maker was a tough sell, given Microsoft's deep roots as a software company. He said: "It's important because the name of the company is Microsoft," he said "It was a fundamental part of the founding principles: we were a software company. "And yet: Xbox, Surface and now the phone, and we have a profile that will end up being mixed in the future. That's a pretty fundamental change." United we stand Ballmer also owned up to a few mobile missteps during his tenure as Bill Gates' successor, including the company's hesitance to unite the company's hardware and software strategies. He added: "In the last 10 years, there are things that didn't go so well. We would have had a strong position in the phone market. The thing I regret is that we didn't put hardware and software together quicker." If you're so inclined, you can watch the full chat below. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amc-rwsQXrA Analysis: Ballmer leaves Microsoft, but in what shape? Microsoft's Siri-rival Cortana appears on video and she wants to get to know you Mar 5th 2014, 00:39, by Chris Smith Microsoft's Siri-like personal assistant app 'Cortana' is perhaps the most anticipated upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 feature. Lucky for you, here it is in its first public appearance in a detailed video clip. UnleashThePhones has posted a two-minute demonstration of the app, which will also be Microsoft's answer to Android's excellent Google Now is shown promising to 'make your life a little easier.' Upon opening the app users will apparently be required to input a Microsoft account before Cortana - named after a character from the Halo game series - seeks to discover more about its owner. Users will be asked to choose a nickname, input data about how they like to spend their evenings, what their food preferences are as well as favourite activities and topics they'd like to stay updated on. If you Build it... Once the set-up is completed, Cortana will ask users how it can be of assistance, giving Windows Phone fans the opportunity to ask questions, request playlists, set alarms and more. It seems the app will be accessed from a Start screen Live Tile, but will also be available by pressing the soft Bing search key beneath the touchscreen. That's enough from us; you can take a peek at Cortana yourself in the video below, although we're sorry to say her voice hasn't been revealed just yet. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkgJwGzsn3Y Microsoft's Windows Phone 8.1 update is due to arrive next month at the company's Build conference. It has already revealed Facebook Messenger and dual-sim functionality will join the party. The company is also thought to be adding a Swype-like keyboard as well as fingerprint scanning tech. Check out the best messaging apps for Windows Phone iOS 7.1 release date may arrive this week or early next Mar 4th 2014, 23:54, by Matt Swider The general public is waiting for the iOS 7.1 release date that's supposed to bring new features and fix a bunch of annoying bugs. Thankfully, this major update is being readied for later this week or early next week, according to Apple enthusiast website Daring Fireball. This is based on the fact that Apple is said to be requiring iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users to install iOS 7.1 in order to stream its first iTunes Festival in the US at South by Southwest. Since the iTunes Festival's US debut is March 11 during the Austin music, film and tech conference, Apple is expected to push the major update to iOS users any day now. iOS 7.1. changes iOS 7.1 has had a long 4-month beta, but it promises to make a few design tweaks and end glitches that drive people crazy. Its "call" and "end" button icons are small and round instead of large and rectangular. Apple also replaced the ugly reddish-orange Power Off slide bar with a translucent bar and white button. More important than these UI changes are the bug fixes. Expect the final release notes to finally address the annoying white screen of death issue that randomly soft resets iOS devices. iOS 7.1 is the first paint job for Apple's fresh coat that was iOS 7. Even bigger changes are expected as part of iOS 8. Maybe by then we'll see a quick way to access Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Do Not Disturb setting by holding down their respective icons in Control Center. In addition to iOS 8, see what's in store for iPhone 6 Looks like Ashton Kutcher isn't working on Lenovo smartphones after all Mar 4th 2014, 21:10, by Michael Rougeau Lenovo has sent TechRadar a statement clarifying that actor Ashton Kutcher is not helping the company develop smartphones. This runs directly contrary to a report last week that claimed the That '70s Show, Punk'd and Jobs star was acting as a product engineer and directly influencing a new line of Lenovo phones. The news was originally attributed to Lenovo Chief Marketing Officer David Roman, but now it seems he may have been misquoted or the information got lost mixed up along the way. In reality, "the development agreement Lenovo has with Ashton Kutcher is for tablets only, and not for smartphones," Lenovo Executive Director of External Communications Ray Gorman told TechRadar in an email. Punk'd and confused Kutcher has been involved with the tech world for some time, having funded some big-name start-ups and co-founded an investment firm for that purpose. He signed on with Lenovo in 2013 as a spokesperson and product engineer, helping out on the company's Yoga Tablet line. In last week's report Roman was quoted as saying, "I know on one level, it sounds corny, but it is real … He not only sees himself as an engineer, but he is an engineer. If he sees a problem, he wants to solve it." It seems that sentiment still applies, but only to Lenovo's tablets and not its smartphones. We've asked Gorman for further clarification regarding this mix-up and will update here if hear back. The Lenovo Vibe Z is the firm's latest smartphone - here's TechRadar's analysis. Apple gets green light for flexible, curved iPhone with virtual buttons Mar 4th 2014, 20:49, by Michael Rougeau Apple has been granted a panted that, among other things, exposes the company's possible plans for a flexible, curved iPhone with virtual buttons. The patent was originally filed in 2011 and first surfaced in March 2013, but as of now it officially belongs to Apple. The images from the patent, first seen a year ago, show a curved iPhone with a wraparound display that grants it extra surface area able to display five apps per row. The hypothetical new iPhone can use multiple cameras to track users' faces and adjust the display accordingly. Virtual buttons In addition the patent covers virtual buttons, which would be a first for an Apple mobile. Apple has long stood by its physical home button, and the volume and lock buttons have always seemed essential as well. But this patent shows that the input configuration of Apple's iPhones may not be as cemented in stone as one might have thought. The volume control in this version is still on the left side, but has some added functionality. For example, the volume level would be visible at all times, and touching the virtual buttons in a certain way could expand the control to span the entire left side of the phone, giving users finer control. In addition the lock button's functionality could hypothetically be controlled using touch gesture's on the phone's sides. Now that Apple's been granted this patent, will we see all these features in the iPhone 6? It seems unlikely, but you never know. Here's what TechRadar thought of the iPhone 5C BlackBerry testing sponsored invites, channel ads in BBM Mar 4th 2014, 17:58, by JR Bookwalter Now that BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) has successfully made the leap from its home turf to iPhone and Android, what's next? Judging from the latest Beta Zone version of the app, it appears to be advertising. BerryReview managed to get a peek at the latest Beta Zone update for the Android version of BlackBerry Messenger and tucked away inside the release notes is an entire section devoted to a new "Ad Experience" the company appears to be toying with. Although users of release versions of BBM are safe for now, there's likely no escaping the fact that ads will eventually turn up there, especially now that BlackBerry Chief Executive Officer John Chen has made it clear the company intends to "monetize" the platform. For now, that experience appears to be limited to two sections of the BBM Beta Zone app: Sponsored invitations in the Invites section, and sponsored channel posts in the Updates section. Message from your sponsor BlackBerry's description of the Ads Experience immediately brings to mind Twitter's Promoted Tweets, relatively harmless paid ads that pop up in a user's timeline on the microblogging service's website and official mobile apps. The BBM Beta Zone release notes also mention "ads may not appear right away" for all users, stressing that ads will only appear in the latest beta version, at least for now. Ironically, the pitch for ads is perched atop a handful of actual improvements to the Beta Zone app, which include increasing the size of attachments from 6MB to 16MB, sharing pictures in a multi-person chat and viewing BBM images in both portrait and landscape orientation. Last but not least, the most recent Beta Zone app allows BBM users to purchase stickers from the new BBM Store, but we're not sure if that should be considered an improvement or another distraction from the app's core functionality. Android gets flexible in our review of the LG G Flex smartphone!

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