| Google's trying to boot Windows out of Android devices, apparently Mar 7th 2014, 14:49, by Hugh Langley 
Google is unhappy about sharing devices with Microsoft, claims a new report, and is trying to dissuade manufacturers from releasing devices that dual boot Windows and Android. According to Digitimes (sometimes right, sometimes not), Google is putting "pressure" on Asus to postpone the release of its Transformer Book Duet TD300 hybrid, which comes running both operating systems. The report goes on to claim that "other PC vendors now also have intentions to stop plans for producing products featuring dual operating system features" 'Sorry, there's just no room'As such a big player in the market, it wouldn't be a surprising move from Google – dual-booting with Windows is only really going to benefit Microsoft. As for how successful Google might be at ousting its rival from the bed, it's tough to tell. Intel and Microsoft could reap a lot of rewards from jumping in with Android, so Mountain View better hope it has enough charm to sway manufacturers. That is, if any of this is true at all. We've contacted Asus for comment on the availability of the TD300 and will update when we hear more.        |  | Updated: Windows Phone 9 release date, news and rumors Mar 7th 2014, 13:10, by James Rogerson 
Windows Phone 8 is over a year old now, yet we still know very little about Windows Phone 9. Originally it was expected to be with us by the end of 2013 as it was thought that Microsoft may adopt the annual software cycle made popular by Apple in an attempt to keep its mobile OS fresh and, more importantly, relevant. That didn't happen, but from the information that we've been able to gather so far it looks like Windows Phone 9 could be a massive overhaul, so it's not surprising that it's taken over a year. Before 9 however it looks like we're going to get Windows Phone 8.1. Microsoft looks set to announce 8.1 at its Build conference in April 2014, while further leaks highlight that Windows Phone 8.5 may also be on the cards. We're scouring the web everyday to bring you all the latest on Windows Phone 9 and we'll be constantly updating the information below to give you the best picture of what's to come. Windows Phone 9 release dateInitial rumors suggested that the Windows Phone 9 release date would be sometime in 2013, with reports claiming it would arrive just in time for Christmas, but as you might have noticed, Christmas has been and gone and we're now in a Windows Phone 9-less 2014. Other reports reckon Microsoft will kill off Windows Phone 8 by September 2014, giving an indication that while it didn't make it out the gates in 2013, version 9 could well be on its way very soon. 
That seems more likely and not only because it wouldn't require time travel to be true. The most recent release date rumors come from Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin, who posted to Twitter that Windows Phone 9 will launch in the second half of the year. He correctly predicted Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia, so he could be worth listening to. The update was also being referred to as Windows Phone Blue, a development name which mirrors an update to Microsoft's new Windows 8 desktop platform - but it's turned out that Windows Phone Blue is actually Windows Phone 8.1. As we've already mentioned, 8.1 is set to appear this spring according to an announcement from Microsoft's Vice President Joe Belfiore at MWC. Windows Phone 9 or just Windows 9?We're seeing reports that suggest Microsoft may look to ditch the divide between its smartphone platform and the one it uses for tablets and PCs - rolling them all into one tidy bundle called Windows 9. One suggestion is that the Windows Blue upgrade will see Windows 8 merged with Windows Phone in an attempt to tackle Google's Android/Chrome combination which is growing ever stronger. Alternatively we could instead get the aforementioned Windows 9 all-in-one system after a Microsoft employee stated "currently testing Windows 9 OS on Nokia, HTC and Qualcomm device" on their LinkedIn profile. Eldar Murtazin has something to say on this subject too, tweeting that Windows Phone 9 will be the same on phones and tablets, replacing Windows RT, though he made no mention of Windows 8, so presumably that will still be separate. Windows Phone 9 featuresMurtazin also has some insight into the design of Windows Phone 9. Apparently it will be a complete overhaul which will remove the tile based Metro interface that Windows Phone is currently known for. That would make sense if Microsoft plans on using the same interface for both phones and tablets. Murtazin went on to say that the interface would be more influenced by Android than iOS. Windows Phone 9 devicesOne of the big issues with Windows Phone 8 was that you couldn't get it on your Windows Phone 7 handset, instead you were lumped with Windows Phone 7.8. It's thought that Windows Phone 9 won't be so restrictive, with Windows Phone 8 users in line to get the upgrade which means you shouldn't have to worry about picking up a Nokia Lumia 1520 or HTC 8X.        | | Windows Phone's Live Tiles may finally live up to their name Mar 7th 2014, 12:51, by John McCann 
The SDK for Windows Phone 8.1 has been fed to developers, and after some digging there's more good news as Live Tiles are set to get another boost. Currently information on the homescreen tiles only updates every 30 minutes - which isn't exactly "live" information - but a developer has spotted this may be about to change in Windows Phone 8.1. Apparently Live Tiles will refresh as regularly as every minute, giving you far more up to date information at a glance on your homescreen. Further into the futureThat's not all that was spotted though, with a tooltip in the code highlighting that there will be more substantial changes to the tiled interface in Windows Phone 8.5. It's not exactly clear what these changes will be, but it warns developers that some features may become unavailable after Windows Phone 8.5. Microsoft is expected to officially announced Windows Phone 8.1 at its Build conference which starts on April 2, so keep an eye out for more information.        | | Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini incoming? Mar 7th 2014, 11:05, by Hugh Langley 
Even if you're not the gambling type, you can bet your mortgage* on Samsung putting out a Mini version of the Samsung Galaxy S5 in the near future, and we've just stumbled on another clue that it could be on the horizon. A not-totally-mysterious phone called the SM-G870 has appeared on Indian import site Zauba, which looks like it could be the smaller variant of Samsung's new flagship. While details are thin, Sammobile points out that the price ratio between this phone and the S5 is similar to that between the Galaxy S4 and the S4 Mini. Small fryThat doesn't make it a sure thing, but it's looking quite likely that this is the anticipated smaller variant. Samsung waited two months after the announcement of the S4 to announce the S4 Mini, however previous rumours have claimed that the S5 Mini won't be unveiled until June - so it might be a while before anything goes official. It's also been rumoured that the S5 Mini will get a Super AMOLED display and come running Android 4.4 KitKat. *But don't actually        | | Apple wants to use your body to connect all your iDevices Mar 7th 2014, 09:35, by Hugh Langley 
Apple's got much bigger plans for security beyond Touch ID, a new patent has revealed, suggesting that Cupertino might one day use our biometric data to connect our devices. The patent application describes a system that uses biometric data to pair devices and allow them to communicate with each other. Being able to transfer data between devices using this shared biometric data, the patent explains, would make for a more secure process. Sending photos from your laptop to your iPhone, for example. Fingerprintin' goodThat biometric data could be anything. Apple lists examples including fingerprint sensors, facial recognition, retina scanning and voice recognition. Apple also suggests that different security levels could be assigned to certain folders, the more secure ones requiring more than one type of biometric input. The patent, spotted by Apple Insider, was filed on August 31, 2012, but was only published by the USPTO this week. Since that original application, Apple has got the ball rolling with Touch ID on the iPhone 5S.        | | Nokia Lumia 630 leak shows off colours, lack of camera button and flash Mar 7th 2014, 00:35, by Chris Smith 
The rumored Nokia Lumia 630 is thought to be one of the first handsets to run Microsoft's incoming Windows Phone 8.1 OS, and a leaked press render suggests it won't have that much else going for it. The image you see above comes courtesy of that ol' leakster @evleaks and shows a device in five pretty shades of polycarbonate, but without a camera flash on the rear or a physical camera button. That suggests Nokia has trimmed back significantly on the hardware in order to keep the Lumia 630 as affordable as possible as it continues to target the lower end of the market. Earlier this week, a leak from Chinese site winp.cn, pegged the device as having a 4.5-inch 854 x 480 screen, Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM. An upgrade and a downgradeShould that prove to be the case, it would still be a significant update on the Lumia 620, which brought a 3.8-inch 480 x 800 display and only 512MB of RAM to the party. Still, you have to wonder just how much a little camera flash and the integration of a physical button actually costs Nokia and whether the omission is worth saving those few pennies. The Lumia 630 is expected to arrive shortly after Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 at its Build conference in early April. Recent reports have suggested Nokia may have already planned an event for April 19, but that remains unconfirmed.        | | Apple's mobile iAds could soon explode onto the entire screen Mar 6th 2014, 18:23, by JR Bookwalter 
BlackBerry isn't the only smartphone maker generating headlines for their mobile advertising initiatives this week: Apple is said to be working on iAds that automatically play video in full-screen mode on iOS devices. Ad Age dug up a scoop on Apple's forthcoming plans for its mobile iAds which may soon see those relatively innocuous banner ads exploding all over their display with full-screen video playback - whether users like it or not. According to the usual "people with knowledge of Apple's plans," iPhone, iPod touch and iPad owners may no longer have to voluntarily tap on a banner-based iAd to make it play. These so-called "interstitials" are rumored to catch a user's attention while they are in the process of jumping to another level of gameplay or after reading an article, rather than disrupting whatever they happen to be doing at the time. Lights, cameras, iAds?Launched in 2010, Apple's iAds generated a lot of buzz but never really took off with advertisers, who balked at the initial asking price of $1 million (about UK£596,500, AU$1.99M) per buy. Although Apple doesn't report iAd revenue, the iPhone maker is said to have steeply marked down the price of such ads to a more reasonable $100,000 (about UK£59,650, AU$109,890) in the years since. According to IDC data, iAds added another $125 million (about UK£75M, AU$137M) to its already overflowing coffers in 2012, but that's a pittance compared to Google-owned AdMob, who advertised its way into $243 million (about UK£145M, AU$267M) during the same year. Apple has yet to comment on its future plans for iAds, but Cupertino is expected to offer full-screen video interstitials through a rumored ad exchange, where space is auctioned off to the highest bidder. - Check out our completely iAd-free review of the iPad Air!
       | | Apple's mobile iAds could soon explode onto the entire screen Mar 6th 2014, 18:23, by JR Bookwalter
BlackBerry isn't the only smartphone maker generating headlines for their mobile advertising initiatives this week: Apple is said to be working on iAds that automatically play video in full-screen mode on iOS devices. Ad Age dug up a scoop on Apple's forthcoming plans for its mobile iAds which may soon see those relatively innocuous banner ads exploding all over their display with full-screen video playback - whether users like it or not. According to the usual "people with knowledge of Apple's plans," iPhone, iPod touch and iPad owners may no longer have to voluntarily tap on a banner-based iAd to make it play. These so-called "interstitials" are rumored to catch a user's attention while they are in the process of jumping to another level of gameplay or after reading an article, rather than disrupting whatever they happen to be doing at the time. Lights, cameras, iAds?Launched in 2010, Apple's iAds generated a lot of buzz but never really took off with advertisers, who balked at the initial asking price of US$1 million (about AU$1.99 million) per buy. Although Apple doesn't report iAd revenue, the iPhone maker is said to have steeply marked down the price of such ads to a more reasonable US$100,000 (about AU$109,890) in the years since. According to IDC data, iAds added another US$125 million (about AU$137 million) to its already overflowing coffers in 2012, but that's a pittance compared to Google-owned AdMob, who advertised its way into US$243 million (about AU$267 million) during the same year. Apple has yet to comment on its future plans for iAds, but Cupertino is expected to offer full-screen video interstitials through a rumored ad exchange, where space is auctioned off to the highest bidder. - Check out our completely iAd-free review of the iPad Air!
       | | In Depth: LG G3 release date, news and rumors Mar 6th 2014, 17:13, by James Rogerson 
LG G3 release date, OS, screen and cameraLG surprised us all with last year's LG G2. It combined top flight specs with innovative features and alongside the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 it really put LG back on the mobile map. But the company faces a bigger challenge now as it's got to keep that momentum going with an even more impressive successor - the LG G3. Little is known about that successor yet, though a number of rumors are starting to bubble up. We've scoured the web for all the juicy gossip and put it in one place to start to paint a picture of the LG G3. First of all, to get the completely unsurprising bit out of the way, it looks like the handset will indeed be called the LG G3, as LG has applied to trademark 'G3'. With that said, let's get down to business. Cut to the chase
What is it? The sequel to 2013's excellent LG G2
When is it out? Between May and July 2014
What will it cost? It may be slightly cheaper than direct rivals
LG G3 release date and priceOne release date doing the rounds is 17th May, a date which comes from Korean site asiae.co.kr, which in turn heard it from "industry sources." The LG G2 didn't arrive until September, so a launch as early as May seems a little unlikely, but reportedly it's being done to allow the G3 to better compete with the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and new HTC One. For what it's worth the same source claimed the LG G Pro 2 would be launched in February, which it was right about, so there could be something to its LG G3 claims. 
On the other hand German site Giga Android is claiming a "source close to the matter" has quoted a June launch, while an anonymous user of the ortud.com forum claimed the device will probably launch in July. Whatever the case it looks like it might arrive earlier in the year than the LG G2 did. There's no word on what it might sell for yet, but this is a flagship phone we're talking about, so it will cost a lot. However LG's flagships have tended to slightly undercut Samsung and HTC rivals, so keep your fingers crossed. LG G3 displayThe LG G3 will apparently have a 1440 x 2560 QHD display, according to the same "industry source" as the May release date rumors. Apparently it will be 5.5 inches, which if true would amount to 534 pixels per inch. We're somewhat skeptical about that though, it feels more like wishful thinking than anything grounded in reality. 1080 x 1920 seems to be the current go-to resolution for flagship phones if the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2 are anything to go by. Then again, if the LG G3 intends to stand out from the crowd a QHD screen could certainly do that. LG G3 processor and RAMThe LG G2 has a 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, which is still pretty impressive, but LG is said to be improving its in-house Odin processor and an octa-core version of it is tipped for the LG G3. The latest octa-core version of the processor will apparently have four cores clocked at 2.2GHz and the other four clocked at 1.7GHz, which should give it a sizable boost over the LG G2. 
It's worth noting that most new flagships get tipped for octa-core processors at the moment and it doesn't always pan out, while it could equally be that only certain variants of the handset will get octa-core power, as we've seen in the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4. If this does turn out to be true though it would mean a move from the Snapdragon chipset in the LG G2 to LG's own chipset. There's no word yet on how much RAM the LG G3 might have. The G2 has 2GB, but the LG G Pro 2 upped it to 3GB, so here's hoping for the same in the G3. LG G3 operating systemA benchmark for a mystery Android handset believed to be the LG G3 due to its model number of LG-D830 (which is similar to the G2's D802 model number) showed that it ran Android 4.4 KitKat. No surprise there, this is a flagship after all. Unfortunately that's all we really know about the OS so far, but it seems a safe bet that it will use LG's Optimus UI and include recent LG innovations like Knock Code, which takes KnockOn to the next level by allowing users to tap a pattern on the screen when it's off, to both turn it on and unlock it. LG G3 cameraInitial rumors coming out of ZDNet Korea pointed towards a 16MP sensor, but more recent leaks suggest a 13MP one. What will probably be the first of many photos supposedly taken on the handset appeared the other day. The picture was an impressively detailed image of a cat and had a resolution of 4260 x 2342 according to the EXIF data. 
That equates to 9.6MP at a 16:9 aspect ratio, which would mean the camera should be capable of taking 13MP photos at a 4:3 ratio. The photo was posted on the ortud.com forum by someone going by the name 'Geek'. The poster claimed their friend was testing the phone and that it had a 13MP camera with optical image stabilization plus (OIS+) and that it's very similar to the snapper in the LG G Pro 2. The posters megapixel claims match those revealed by the EXIF data, but that's something that's very easy to fake. Not to mention the fact that the device is listed as an LG-D972, which isn't a model number that we've ever come across. 
If it does turn out to be real then it will have the same number of megapixels as the LG G2, but given the quality of the leaked image it looks like it could still be capable of taking significantly better photos. Phone Arena also received a User Agent profile from an anonymous source which showed a device going by the name LG D830 (the same device as appeared in benchmarks) as having a 13MP camera along with support for 4K video playback and 120fps slow motion video. Chassis, security and what we wantLG G3 chassisThe actual design of the LG G3 is one thing which LG has managed to keep very quiet. We'd take an educated guess and say that it will probably keep the buttons on the back, as love it or loathe it it's a design decision which helped the G2 stand out. Beyond that you know as much as we do. LG G3 fingerprint or eye scannerBack in January we heard from South Korean site ETNews that the LG G3 might have a fingerprint scanner. It would make sense, as the iPhone 5S, HTC One Max and Samsung Galaxy S5 all sport one and you'd think LG would want to be part of the club. Still, we'd take the rumor with a pinch of salt as the same report claimed that the LG G Pro 2 was likely to feature a fingerprint scanner and it didn't. 
But the rumors don't end there. More recently ZDNet Korea reported that LG was considering biometric authentication (specifically either fingerprint or iris scanners) in its future products. Expressing interest in something is hardly a confirmation that it's happening, but that hasn't stopped certain corners of the internet from concluding that it will be a feature of the LG G3. 5 things we want to seeThat's all we've heard so far, but while we wait for more rumors to emerge here are five things that LG really should include in the G3: 1. A metal chassisThere was a time when it was only Apple making truly stunning smartphones, but now HTC and Sony have got in on the act too. Samsung might be stubbornly sticking to plastic but then it's got enough market share that it can pretty much do whatever it wants. LG doesn't have that luxury and if it wants to turn heads an all-metal LG G3 would be a good start. 2. An iris scanner
There's the ghost of a whisper that this might happen, but we're far from convinced. It should though. If done well it could be an even slicker alternative to the fingerprint scanners that manufacturers are currently going mad for and it would put LG ahead of the game, rather than playing catch-up. 3. A beastly batteryThe LG G2 has pretty great battery life as it is, so we're hopeful that the LG G3 will follow suit. Battery life is one of the last remaining hurdles manufacturers need to overcome, but it's a big one. We'd take a battery which can last several days between charges over increased power or screen size in a heartbeat. 4. A 64-bit processorThere was talk that Samsung might include a 64-bit processor in the Galaxy S5, but that didn't happen, which now gives LG the chance to beat Samsung to the punch. It's debatable how useful a 64-bit processor would even be right now, but it would help to future proof it at least. 5. Bulked up storageWe're not too sold on microSD cards, but we are fans of plenty of storage space, so a bigger hard drive would be great. The iPad Air comes with up to 128GB, as does a phone in China, so why not the LG G3? - Like LG but want something a little smaller? Check out the LG G2 mini
       | | Blip: LG G Flex ad betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of how phones work Mar 6th 2014, 16:02, by Kate Solomon 
Here are the various emotions that you will go through when watching LG's latest ad for the LG G Flex: Boredom, dismay, disbelief, ABJECT HORROR, what is that? is that a... no, wait, it's a mouth, dismay, confusion, dismay, why's he putting the ear to his ear and the mouth to his mouth?, more dismay, sick in your mouth, dismay, dismay, dismay. We're starting an online petition to have the whole thing killed with fire, who's with us? YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WohB8WDYCZ0More blipsCleanse your mental palate with some more blips.        | | Vodafone gives businesses $5 roaming and data sharing Mar 6th 2014, 04:28, by Farrha Khan 
Vodafone has introduced new plans for small to medium businesses that extends it $5 Roam Like Home offer, as well as allowing data sharing of up to 150GB. 12-month BYOD plans start from $135 per month for 3GB of data for up to three users, going up to $4,500 per month for up to 100 users. For plans with devices included, businesses will be locked into a 24-month plan, but you'll also get a "Tech Fund" for the purchase of devices. Businesses have the option to choose between Plus or Pro 24-month plans, with Pro plans offering more data and a higher Tech Fund. Plus plans begin at $150 for 3GB of data and $750 Tech Fund for up to 3 users, going up to $5,000 for 100GB of data and a $25,000 Tech Fund for up to 100 users. Meanwhile, Pro plans begin at $195 for 3GB of data and $1,500 Tech Fund for up to 3 users, and go up to $6,500 for 150GB of data and a $50,000 Tech Fund for up to 100 users. Of course, if your business is expanding, Vodafone allows businesses to add an extra users to each plan for $45 per month. You can also get extra data SIMs for tablets or mobile broadband devices for an extra $10 per month. A shared businessFormer Vodafone CEO Bill Morrow last year told TechRadar that the telco was working on data sharing for customers, so while the company has introduced data sharing for small to medium businesses, it is likely it will be introduced to other customers later on as well.. Besides data sharing, like it's Red plans, these business plans also include unlimited national standard calls and SMS, but also Vodafone's $5 a day Roam Like Home cap in up to 46 countries, which the telco had introduced mid last year. Vodafone also has monthly data packs for businesses as well, starting from 2GB for $20 up to 100GB for $500.   | |
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