| LG G3 leak suggests QHD display disappointment for some Apr 16th 2014, 11:44, by Hugh Langley 
The LG G3 is the next big awaited phone of 2014, and while there have already been whispers of a Quad HD (QHD) screen, we're now hearing that there could be two versions of the handset. It appears that two G3 variants have passed through Antutu's benchmark conveyer belt, but only one is flaunting the super high-resolution screen. The first device spotted is the QHD variant of the G3 flagship, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, 2560 x 1440 resolution (matching what we've already heard), a 13MP rear camera and a 2MP front-facer. Meanwhile the second mysterious phone has a lower, 1920 x 1080 full HD display and a more impressive 3GB of RAM. Both come with Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box. Suspicious mindsYes, that means the QHD handset appears to have less RAM than the lower-res phone, which seems a little fishy. Is this actually a variant of the G3 or another phone entirely? Hands on buzzers please. Another rumour doing the rounds spells out an early July release for the phone, but don't mark it in the diary until we hear something more concrete. - So what else do we know about the LG G3?
       |  | In depth: TV on your mobile: the way you watch television is about to change, again Apr 16th 2014, 11:39, by Jamie Carter 
The future of mobile TV: why we need itIt's hard to believe that we live in an age when drones and wearable technology tussle for our attention but a seemingly simple thing such as seamless mobile television is still a pipe dream. Many will remember the excitement of using a portable TV on the go - a 2-inch, fuzzy screen that allowed you to watch sport on the train. But when those chunky battery-suckers died, the mobile phone was supposed to take over. For the Western world, this simply hasn't been the case. We have looked on with envy as the likes of South Korea and Japan, where phones have actual extendable aerials, enjoy TV on the go. This is while on-demand and downloads try their hardest to fulfil our television needs - but it's much like putting a sticking plaster on a gaping wound. Things could well be about to change, though, with chipset manufacturer Qualcomm's new LTE Broadcast technology hoping to usher in a new era of live mobile TV. With tablets and bigger phones at the fore, we could all soon be enjoying hyper-local news flashes, automatic downloads, multi-cast streaming at sports events and even full-time live TV channels. It's not going to be easy though: we've already got TV channels served as apps, unlimited data and free Wi-Fi - so will consumers really want to pay for the chance to put the gogglebox properly in their pocket? Why mobile TV has more than a sporting chanceWell, the answer will be a resounding 'yes' if the technology delivers on what it says it will. Picture the scene: you are watching some live sports and bite into your burger at the exact moment someone scores and you miss the action. What Qualcomm is proposing is that with its technology, real-time replays will be available to watch on your handset. And this is without any fear of signal outages. -HTC-420-100.jpg "Multicasting and a choice of angles could grace sports stadiums and help revolutionise the way we watch sports.")
There have been myriad tests in 'device-dense' locations such as stadiums that prove signals can penetrate the masses without fear of a broadcast blackout. For instance, back in February, Vodafone Germany became the first European carrier to conduct live tests with LTE Broadcast, which they did in collaboration with Ericsson, Qualcomm Technologies and Samsung. The trial took place at Borussia Mönchengladbach's football stadium on Saturday 22 February for the Bundesliga match with 1899 Hoffenheim. It was a resounding success. "There is growing demand for high quality video content on mobile devices and LTE Broadcast gives our customers a brand new mobile media experience," says Eric Kuisch, CTO Vodafone Germany. "This technology enables multiple broadcast sessions to be viewed simultaneously, so our customers will be able to watch … exclusive video content from the stadium they're in." According to Kuisch, that can include access to multiple broadcast cameras filming the on-pitch events at various angles. These are all things that 'second screen' apps can take advantage of, but the best thing about it is that the 'first screen' is actually the live game you are watching. LTE Broadcast was also trialled at February's SuperBowl XLVIII, where Verizon used a fleet of Samsung Galaxy Note 3 handsets to trial a live stadia TV service branded 'multicast'. But how is this different to using current apps?When you watch live TV on your phone – perhaps through a website/app like Sky Mobile or TVCatchup – there's a direct and separate link between your phone and the server. Try that in a busy sports stadium and it won't work at all. LTE Broadcast sends out live video from each cell tower in the network simultaneously to multiple handsets without disrupting the network. 
"It drastically changes the economics [of mobile TV because] you can send rich video content to hundreds of thousands of people in areas with weak LTE coverage," says Carson, "just by sending it once instead of hundreds of thousands of times." This means that in 'device dense' areas, mobile television shines through. But it doesn't mean it is restricted to sports events. Though network operators could broadcast live stadium TV geographically – say, from just from one or two mobile towers – it could create hyper-local news alerts 'pushed' to phones in the vicinity, or be used to send out firmware and software updates instantly to thousands of devices simultaneously. LTE Broadcast could even be used to push specific TV programmes or content into your device without you being aware; personal video recorders in the cloud is a mere rights issue away. The future of mobile TV: how it worksHow does it work?LTE Broadcast is the way of delivering mobile TV from Qualcomm (it's also known as evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service, or eMBMS). It is part of its Snapdragon processors for flagship Android devices. The service will use 4G (LTE, or long term evolution) to deliver the data. "The tech is seamlessly integrated into the LTE [4G] standard so the carrier doesn't have to have a dedicated radio network or dedicate any radio spectrum to offer this service," says Peter Carson, senior director of marketing at Qualcomm in San Diego. With LTE Broadcast capability in most of the smartphones of the near future, activating services will merely be a decision by the mobile network and handset manufacturers. But the best bit? There's no data fee involved in watching mobile TV channels – and those channels can come in HD. Better still, Qualcomm tells us that Ultra HD 4K broadcasts could be possible, too. It works a bit like DVB-T, which is how Freeview HD in the UK is broadcast, whereby a TV signal is distributed to an unlimited number of recipients. The user only needs an LTE-enabled device with an LTE Broadcast app. But do we need actually need mobile TV?There is a huge appetite for consuming video on the go. Strategy Analytics recently conducted a huge survey of mobile users in US, China, France, Germany, Spain and the UK, and found that 72% of users were consuming video on their phones. "With 4G services arriving there is the bandwidth to actually watch live TV or stream catch up TV for the first time," says Cox. "Mobile operators need to find reasons to get subscribers to upgrade to 4G and TV consumption is a primary reason." 
He adds that our loyalty towards our TV provider is something mobile networks are keen to latch on to. "I change my mobile phone every year and shop around for the best new deal, but I have been with Sky for 12 years," he says. "Mobile operators can use television services to keep subscriber satisfaction high and retain customers." Why has mobile TV not taken off to date?"Primarily due to lack of bandwidth," says Cox. "Only now that 4G services have taken off are we really able to see the speeds and reliability that will enable streaming without interruption. Even on 3G this was difficult to achieve." Qualcomm has been here before, promoting a technology called FLO TV for the US market back in 2007 that was a failure. Using a dedicated network, FLO TV provided TV channels that network operators like AT&T and Verizon could sell on to subscribers. It closed in 2011. 
"It failed spectacularly," says Windsor Holden, Research Director at Juniper Research. "Its launch was delayed and there was only two or three model of phones that could receive FLO TV … when Wi-Fi arrived it made streaming more attractive and cut the ground for under the idea of having a dedicated network." Holden thinks that LTE Broadcast is an interesting development, but struggles to see it making money. "With LTE there's the advantage of using the existing network, but the key has to be live coverage – it's one-to-many so it's efficient and certainly solves the problem of in-stadia coverage – but I'm not entirely convinced about how the business model stacks up," he says. Could we not just watch TV on Wi-Fi?It's what we all already do in our homes, and increasingly when we're away from home, too. "We're getting to the point where Wi-Fi is ubiquitous – it's even on trains – so the physical window for mobile TV is diminishing," says Holden. "Even in areas where there's no Wi-Fi is the LTE coverage good enough to get a good TV signal?" Whether any of us want, or want to pay for, mobile TV remains on be seen, but our touchscreen devices have reached a size and capacity where it becomes possible. "The growth in five-inch screens has driven more demand for television services," says Cox, who thinks people are buying tablets instead of second TVs and could be open to new ways of consuming TV and video. 
"As broadcasters have seen more and more people watching not live TV, but TV at a time of their choice, they've adapted content with catch-up TV services and personal video recorders," he says. "The next big change in television consumption is based not on time but geography – people watching what they want, when they want, and now where they want." Could Qualcomm's LTE Broadcast find a niche? Anyone rushing home from work at 5pm on 19 June this year to watch the England Vs Uruguay World Cup match might be able to spot a gap in the market.        | | Apple, Samsung and others will add an anti-theft kill switch to future phones Apr 16th 2014, 10:06, by Hugh Langley 
Leading names in the smartphone business, including arch nemeses Apple and Samsung, have formed a pact to give all future phones with an anti-theft kill switch. Apple, Samsung and other big smartphone manufactures have all agreed to add the feature, which will essentially turn the stolen device into a brick. The agreement means that all phones sold in the US from July 2015 will have a kill switch to let theft victims to remotely wipe their device and prevent it from being reactivated without a pin or password, according to the CTIA. Hands offApple, Samsung, Google, HTC, Nokia, Microsoft, Motorola and Huawei are members of the alliance. There's a very good chance that this scheme will quickly move beyond the US and we're following up with some manufacturers to see what the plan is. The new anti-theft mechanism will either come preloaded on phones starting July next year, or will be available to download.        | | In depth: Project Ara: your next smartphone is one you'll build yourself Apr 16th 2014, 10:01, by Chris Mills 
Back in October 2013, a YouTube video called Phonebloks took the tech-loving corner of the internet by storm. It showcased a concept for an entirely modular smartphone, where individual components could be changed out on a whim (or as they became obsolete). In just a few months, one of Google's elite R&D teams (which was borne out of the acquisition from Motorola), spearheaded by the ex-manager of the secretive US DARPA research team, has taken Phonebloks a big way towards reality: designing an in-depth vision for how the modular phone (now codenamed Project Ara) will fit together and run. The culmination of their effort is an 80-page document for third-party manufactures who want to build modules for Ara; outlined inside is a comprehensive vision of how Google sees the future of smartphones - and the good news is that even with the sale of Motorola to Lenovo, the modular phone creation is staying firmly locked in Google's mysterious project cave HardwareAn Ara phone starts life as an endoskeleton (or 'endo', to its friends). Basically a bare motherboard with no screen, processor, battery, or anything you'd normally associate with a smartphone. Then modules, bought separately or as part of a kit, can be attached to the endo to create a complete phone, which you can switch around at the push of a button to fulfil your particular needs – or that's the idea, anyway. Initially, Google's planning on manufacturing two endos: a thin 'Mini' and a 'Medium', which is almost exactly the same size as a modern Samsung Galaxy S5. There's also the possibility of a phablet-busting 'Large' version coming out further down the line. It's all based on a grid, where each square is approximately 22mm x 22mm. 
Each endo has a front and a rear: the front is basically just one big slot for the screen, perhaps with a bar along the top for a front-camera/speaker module. The back is where most of the modules live. It's divided down the middle by a spine; the spine then has ribs that shoot off to the side, ultimately dividing the back up into slots of size 1x1, 1x2 or 2x2. The modules lock into these slots by way of electro-permanent magnets (EPMs). These are a hybrid of electromagnets and normal permanent magnets, which can essentially be turned on and off by having a current passed through them. Once the magnet is turned on it stays in that state without needing to have electricity flowing through it, unlike a conventional electromagnet. The connection should be pretty robust – Google says that all Ara phones must be able to withstand a 4-foot drop and fairly intense vibration test. 
Click here for the full res version of this image The electro-permanent magnets will be controlled through an EPM application, where the user will be able to see what modules are attached, whether they're locked in or not. You'll also be able to activate/deactivate the magnets on a per-module basis, using the touchscreen. The modules themselves can be 1x1, 1x2 or 2x2, although 1x1 modules are apparently non-functional on the current prototype. Every module communicates with the endo via an 'interface block', a little connector that provides power and data flow to and from the module. A battery module could provide power via the interface block, and a processor module would draw power and so on. 
This interface will probably prove to be one of Project Ara's limiting factors: the goal of Ara is that as processors and RAM increase in power, users can just keep upgrading those specific modules to keep their phones at the cutting edge. For that to work, however, an interface that lets all the modules talk to each other has to be able to keep up. That means that the software platform the Ara designers come up with not only has to work for the power and data needs of current components, but also the kind of freakishly fast components we'll be using down the line, assuming technology keeps improving at the current rate. One of Google's more interesting visions for Ara is the use of over-size modules that stick out from the chassis. Two ideas specifically highlighted are a thermal-imaging camera, which you could swap out the regular camera for when you're feeling particularly Terminator; and a fingerprint sensor module that extends off the bottom of the phone. It's not difficult to imagine other, equally useful, applications – a zoom-lens camera, for example, or a credit-card reader. 
Equally interesting is the design language Google is dictating for modules, with the aim "to create a smooth, fat, pebble form". This, according to Google, achieves a double-whammy of an easy-to-hold design, which also has a "timeless" aesthetic. That said, Google's also been showing off Ara modules with zany colour schemes, or even cat-faces drawn on – so with any luck, it'll be more than standard-issue black rectangles to choose from. Overall, it looks like the first generation of Ara won't be quite as modular as the Phonebloks prototype – the need for ribs on the endo severely limits the overall modularity of the phone. That said, the design still allows you to replace components as more powerful ones come on the market, so one of Phonebloks' ambitions – to reduce e-waste – is still very much alive, provided that the endo can keep up. SoftwareUnsurprisingly, Google is speccing Ara out to run a version of Android, more or less. A few specific protocols are being added to support modules like the thermal-imaging camera, but overall the software on an Ara phone should very much feel and perform like stock Android. 
The plan is to have all Ara modules submitted to Google, where they'll be certified and then put up for sale through a Module Market, a la Google's Play Store app market. Presumably this will also come with a similar division of the sale price – a slice to Google, and the majority to the manufacturer. However, the details and mechanics are still TBD. AvailabilityGoogle's aiming for a release in the first quarter of 2015 – less than 365 days from now, in other words. Although there are lots of details still to iron out, the release of this developer kit should allow third-party manufacturers to get to work on modules. If all the necessary design, prototyping and bug-testing can be done in the remaining months, that launch date might not be such a far-flung dream after all.        | | Samsung promises a new-look Galaxy Note 4 and Android smartwatch this year Apr 16th 2014, 08:52, by Hugh Langley 
Samsung has promised a "new form factor" for the Galaxy Note 4, which will launch in the second half of this year. Yoon Han-ki, senior vice president of Samsung's product strategy team, didn't elaborate any further to Reuters on its next Note device, but did offer up a few other interesting morsels. According to Yoon, Samsung's plan is to push out its long-awaited Tizen phones in the second quarter of this year, which could be any time between now and the end of July. He added that Tizen will initially be targeting markets where Android isn't taking off. But with the Galaxy Gear smartwatches using the Linux-based OS, we could well see Samsung expand that in the future. Clash of the TizensYoon said that "poor market conditions" have delayed the launch of Tizen, which was meant to make its grand appearance last year. He said that Samsung plans to launch two devices, a high-ender and a mid-ranger. Interestingly, he also said that Samsung plans to bring out an Android-based smartwatch later this year. With the Gear 2 and Neo running on Tizen OS, they're exclusively tied to Samsung devices. A Gear that's compatible with all Android phones, however, could be just the ticket.        | | Tablets and phones are sucking Intel dry Apr 16th 2014, 06:10, by Farrha Khan 
New financial postings show that Intel has been losing billions of dollars on its Mobile and Communications Group over the last few years. The division, which includes Bluetooth, GPS, wi-fi and and cellular connectivity, along with its mobile processors, has seen the company lose a about US$3.15 billion (about £1.88 billion, AU$3.36 billion) in 2013. The first quarter of 2014 hasn't proven much better for the division, with Intel posting an operating lost of US$929 million. Low processingThe company has also seen large losses in its PC and Data Centre Groups - US$2.8 billion (about £1.67 billion, AU$3 billion) and US$1.3 billion (about £780 million, AU$1.4 billion), respectively, in the first quarter of 2014 alone. But while the figures look grim for the company, Intel's fledgling Internet of Things Group has reported sales profits of nearly half a million each quarter. The company also has new processors it showcased at Mobile World Congress earlier this year that support LTE and purported download speeds of 300Mbps, which should help it take on rival Qualcomm. There's also Intel's tiny PC, Edison, to look forward to as well. Via: The Verge        | | Apple, Samsung and other big names sign on for smartphone kill switches Apr 16th 2014, 00:49, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
Few things are more of a bummer than losing your phone; first comes the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, then the rage, and finally the anxiety that some stranger is flipping through your contacts, accessing your email and tapping on apps storing sensitive personal information. While it may do little to save your current smartphone, beginning next year a host of smartphone makers will start voluntarily including a baseline anti-theft smartphone kill switch in the handsets they sell stateside. The names on the signatory list of the "Smartphone Anti-Theft Voluntary Commitment" include some of the industries biggest players. Apple, Asurion, AT&T, Google, HTC, Huawei, Motorola, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon are all committed to including a kill switch in their handsets. They've agreed that all new smartphone models made after July 2015 will include a basic anti-theft tool that can be preloaded or downloaded to their devices. What kind of protections are we talking about here?According to the CTIA, the kill switch will have the "connected capability to" remotely wipe authorized user data such as contacts, photos and emails if and when a smartphone is lost or stolen. The phone makers have agreed to make a phone inoperable to an unauthorized user - basically someone who doesn't know your password or PIN - except in the case of 911 and other emergency communications. The kill switch will also prevent reactivation without the authorized owner's permission, and it will include the ability to restore a phone's function if the owner recovers it, including reinstalling whatever user data it can.   | | Windows Phone 8.1's next trick? How about 2K smartphone displays Apr 15th 2014, 22:00, by Kevin Lee 
Microsoft might be in the process of unleashing Windows Phone 8.1, but it seems the Redmond company isn't going to stop at Cortana. Nokia Power User has picked up on the scent of a new General Distribution Release 2 version of Windows Phone 8.1 on its way to hardware manufacturers. Supposedly the new software release is adding some oomph to Microsoft's mobile platform with support for 2K display resolutions and Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 805 processor. Prior to this stealthy update, we've seen Windows Phone 8.1 support a maximum display resolution of 1080p and up to a Snapdragon 800 processor as seen on the Lumia 930. High-octane specsWith this new software build, we could newer phones equipped with these bleeding edge specs. In fact, leaks are already starting to drip. According to a GFX benchmark we spotted on April 2, a new Windows Phone handset christened the Qualcomm LiQUID boasts a 1440 x 2560 resolution and is equipped with a Snapdragon 805 processor. And on January 20, there were rumors a Nokia Lumia 1520 Mini would feature a pixel rich 4.3-inch, 513ppi Full HD AMOLED screen. With all the big phone shows and Microsoft Build out of the way, it's anyone's guess when these monster handsets will make it to the real world. We've got our fingers crossed it's soon, but stay tuned as we're sure to hear more before too long.        | | Google's Project Ara could become much more than a smartphone Apr 15th 2014, 21:42, by Lily Prasuethsut 
The first developer conference for Project Ara is going down at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif. this week, and it sounds like the three-person team and its cadre of contractors are gaining some headway. Ara is set to debut in January 2015 as a "gray phone" to allow for maximum customer customization. With the perpetual talk of customization, the question of whether a Project Ara product actually needs to be a phone at all came up during the conference. Project leader Paul Eremenko noted that because Ara has been planned as a global device, carriers haven't been assigned to the phone. In fact, Ara's vast modular capabilities mean that there will be pieces devs and users can swap out that allow the "smartphone" to become whatever they want it to be. David Fishman, a manager on the Ara team, further explained that a Project Ara device (which has been up until this point thought of as a phone), wouldn't need to have a SIM or Wi-Fi module and "still would be able to run an operating system and do what you'd want to do without a connection." "What is a phone is challenged when you can pick and choose pieces on our platform," he concluded. IoT and beyondThe notion of Ara being an "internet of things" device was also mentioned, and though Eremenko said the device could be anything, Google intended Ara to be "ultimately a great smartphone first and foremost." "If it can be other things, we encourage that," he continued. He elaborated that Google decided to hone in on creating a smartphone so something was created, leaving "developers to explore different branches of that." With Ara being modular, the company is completely open to the prospect of devs and users to explore all the opportunities presented. "We want to be as helpful but as hands-off as possible for the ecosystem," Eremenko said. Could we see Project Ara tablets, laptops, smartwatches and more? The opportunities seem endless. The ambitious project will hold two more developer conferences - one in July focusing on software and another in September about hardware again.        | | First Project Ara phone release settles on January 2015 Apr 15th 2014, 21:40, by Michelle Fitzsimmons 
The first phone from Google's ambitious modular device project could go on sale as early as January 2015. That's the target coming out of the Project Ara Developers Conference, going on today and Wednesday in Google's hometown of Mountain View, Calif. While the idea is to have a Project Ara handset be almost completely customizable, the phone that could go on sale in less than a year will be a $50 (about £29, AU$53) "gray phone," essentially a frame, screen and Wi-Fi radio. The Project Ara team, lead by former DARPA member Paul Eremenko, had previously announced a target launch time frame of early next year, but this is the first time a release month has been pinned to a Project Ara device. What's up with AraThe conference is offering plenty of details on Project Ara, which will let users pick and swap the parts of their phone using various tiles, or modules. For one, those who like a little extra sensory stimulation may be pleased to learn textured modules are planned. The team also described how personal photos could be turned into customized module skins. During a Q&A break, the team was asked whether there will be any protection built into modules in case a user loses one. Eremenko answered, "to a large extent, that's a question for module developers." "[It] seems like it would be a useful feature to have in a lot of modules, especially modules that store a lot of information," he continued. "We don't envision it as a platform feature. It would be on a module-by-module basis." Google is opening up Project Ara hardware creation to developers, save for a few key components. Therefore, it would rest on developers' shoulders to decide what features and protections are built into their modules. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OEKL1w__4#t=32225Longevity is one Project Ara's selling points since users won't have throw out an entire phone when it reaches the end of its life, instead swapping out parts as they fail. Eremenko said that as far as the "endo," or endoskeleton of an Ara device, goes, his goal is to have one last 5-6 years. The contact pads that connect modules to the endo are designed not to wear out, either. Naturally Ara phones are meant to run Android, but there's still work to be done as the OS doesn't support the drivers found in the modular parts. The good news for the Project Ara team, which is beholden to a tight two-year deadline, is that it has the dynamic, problem-solving force of Google behind it. And for those who were crying "copycat," Project Ara's David Fishman said Google had been working on a a modular phone before it saw what Phonebloks was developing. He said the Project Ara team and Phonebloks founder Dave Hakkens have worked together to create a community around modular devices.        | | BBC iPlayer downloads now available on all recent Android devices Apr 15th 2014, 21:39, by Chris Smith 
The vast majority of BBC iPlayer users on Android are now able to download content to watch offline after the corporation updated the app on Tuesday. Following the initial roll out on 11 devices in September last year and a careful expansion since, the Beeb has now announced that all smartphones and tablets running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above are in on the act. That means 96 per cent of all current users will be able to grab episodes of Eastenders, Match of the Day, Panorama to view when Wi-Fi connectivity isn't available and without rinsing their mobile data allowance. The updated app is now available to download from the Google Play Store. Testing, testingThe opening up of the feature to practically all users goes against the Beeb's recent policy of testing it on every device before widening availability. As such, with 5,000 phones and tablets now able to access the complete set of features, the Beeb says users of some devices may experience a few bugs. "We believe that the vast majority of devices will enjoy a great video downloading experience. However, with more than five thousand different phone, phablet and tablet models able to install the BBC iPlayer Android app, there are likely to be a number of devices that exhibit bugs concerning download behaviour, wrote senior product manager David Berlin on the BBC Internet blog."        | | The Galaxy S5's fingerprint scanner can be tricked just like the iPhone 5S's Apr 15th 2014, 20:45, by Michael Rougeau 
You'd think Samsung might have learned from Apple's mistakes when it comes to fingerprint technology, but you'd be wrong. Just as the iPhone 5S's Touch ID fingerprint scanner was fooled by hackers mere days after the phone's release, the Samsung Galaxy S5's has already been tricked as well ... with the exact same method. Just like the iPhone's sensor, the Galaxy S5's fingerprint-based security can be bypassed using a special rubber mold. The delinquent who wants to create such a bypass key would need to first lift the phone owner's fingerprint and then stamp it onto rubber - no small feat. Not quite Fort KnoxDoes that mean there's nothing to worry about? As TechCrunch points out, you might have bigger problems if someone is going so far as to duplicate your fingertips just to get into your phone. However, the particular implementation of the fingerprint reader in Samsung's Galaxy S5 makes this hack-around slightly more problematic, since unlike on the iPhone S5, owners of the latest Galaxy can use fingerprints to authenticate with PayPal. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfhLZZWBn5Q#t=24So someone with access to your fingerprint could potentially also have access to your PayPal account, which is clearly not a good thing. Of course, as has been said, either way the criminal will have access to your email accounts on your phone, but once that's done, they can do just about anything anything.        | | iTunes Radio UK launch may be imminent as Apple courts advertisers Apr 15th 2014, 20:10, by Chris Smith 
Apple's iAd man in the UK has been briefing advertising agencies on the inner workings of the iTunes Radio platform suggesting a launch on these shores may finally be on the horizon. According to a tweet sent by Hannah Allen, the head of marketing at OMD UK, her firm was paid a visit by Paul Wright who manages Apple's advertising platform from a London base. She tweeted: "Great to see @paulwright66 back at @OMD_UK to take us through Apple's iAd and iTunes Radio - can't wait for that to hit UK!" Despite calls from fellow Twitter users for her to reveal the precise launch date, Miss Allen is yet to follow up the tweet. The wait goes onThe iTunes Radio launch in the UK has been awaited since Apple rolled out the free, ad-supported streaming platform to US users alongside iOS 7 in September 2013. Apple had pledged an early 2014 launch across the pond, but aside from the occasional appearance on random devices in the UK, it is yet to make it's official bow. Surely now we can't be far away. What price the announcement of a UK roll-out at WWDC in June?   | | Microsoft Office 365 Personal launches Apr 15th 2014, 19:04, by Juan Martinez 
Microsoft has made Office 365 available for $69.99 per year, the company said in a blog post. The offering, Office 365 Personal, will also be available for $6.99 per month. The Office 365 Personal subscription allows for one PC, Mac, or tablet, to be connected to the service. Users will receive 27 GB of storage and 60 minutes of monthly worldwide Skype calling time. Multiple devicesFor families looking to connect multiple devices to the same subscription, Microsoft Office 365 Home enables up to five devices to be connected to one subscription for $99.99 per year or $9.99 per month. (TechRadar recently tipped readers off to a deal that enables purchasers to receive a one-year Office 365 Home subscription for only $67.15 and free shipping.) "By offering Office 365 Personal, in addition to Office 365 Home, we are better positioned to deliver the right Office to a broader range of households–whether it's an individual or a family of five," Microsoft said in its statement. Recent activityMicrosoft recently made its online versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote available as Chrome Apps that can be launched from the browser's desktop-based App Launcher. The Redmond, Wash.-based company also launched Office for iPad last month. According to TechRadar's "Hands on" review of the application, the Office 365 features available on the iPad, "make sense, [and are] implemented in ways that work beautifully on the iPad." Microsoft previewed Office 365 Personal in March.        | | Original HTC One will get the Sense 6 bump by the end of May Apr 15th 2014, 18:10, by klee 
Users hanging onto their original HTC One might be stuck with a single-sensor camera, but soon they'll be getting nearly the same software experience as the new HTC One (M8). Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC America, tweeted that current One users will get the Sense 6, or, as HTC loves to call it, the Sixth Sense update pushed to them by the end of May. Assuming everything stays on schedule, Sense 6 will bring a host of interface changes, including an updated BlinkFeed. The new version allows users to scan through articles and social media news from a widget-like panel on the home screen. Unlike Sense 5, the phone starts on the home screen first rather than BlinkFeed. Users can also remove the specialized news feed by moving it to the trash just like an app. A dash of vanilla AndroidSense 6 will bring the HTC One's user experience closer to the vanilla version of Android, making it easier for users to simply drag applications from the app drawer to the home screen. Additionally, the lock screen that used to only hold a giant analog clock face has been expanded to show the time in a digital read out as well as the weather, and there's room for more lock screen widgets. Unlike Sense 5, the phone starts on the home screen first rather than BlinkFeed and users can also remove the specialized news feed by moving it to the trash just like an app. With Sense 6, swiping up on the lock screen will open the phone normally, swiping to left the takes users to the home screen instantly, and swiping to the right launches BlinkFeed. One of the biggest underlying changes to Sixth Sense is it has separated out its core features, such as the camera and BlinkFeed, from the main operating system as standalone apps. This way, HTC can update the individual apps on the Play Store without needing to include them in a over-the-air software updates subject to carrier meddling. What's missingHowever, not everything about Sense 6.0 will be ported over to the older hardware. Last time we heard about Sense 6 coming to the HTC One, it seemed like Motion Launch gesture controls wouldn't make it over as the older handset because it lacks the sensors to detect when the screen is being double tapped. Engadget claims that the Sense update is also planned for the HTC One Mini as well as the HTC One Max, but there isn't any word on when those will arrive. Meanwhile, HTC One users outside of the United States are also more likely to get the update first as the software update doesn't need to pass as carrier certification processes. The end of May is still a month and a half away, so we'll just have to sit and wait for HTC to uphold its Twitter promises.   | | Samsung and HTC may pull a smartphone casing switcheroo Apr 15th 2014, 17:58, by JR Bookwalter 
Samsung has been taking it on the chin from critics and customers alike for its flimsy plastic smartphone housings, but a new report claims the Korean company may soon switch places with HTC for a metal chassis. DigiTimes had its ear to the ground, turning up a pair of rumors straight from the supply chains of Android smartphone kingpins HTC and Samsung, which may soon be feeling a sense of déjà vu. While the two manufacturers seem to have differing philosophies when it comes to what the casing of their flagship handsets should be made from, the report claims HTC could soon offer a version of the HTC One (M8) with a cheaper plastic housing. The rumor of an iPhone 5C-like M8 also cropped up April 14. Sources close to Samsung claim the company also appears to be considering a switch of its own, with a variant of the just-released Galaxy S5 that features a "metal-alloy chassis" instead of plastic - a rumor that has persisted since last fall. Different strokesThe shift from metal to plastic appears to be purely economical on HTC's part as a move to target the "entry-level to mid-range" smartphone market in Asia, where devices costing $700 (about £419, AU$749) or more are considered a luxury. Supply chain sources claim HTC could reduce the contract-free price of its HTC One (M8) to as little as $400 (about £239, AU$428) in such markets, simply by switching from metal to plastic. The report paints Samsung's own about-face from plastic to metal as more of a defensive move intended to attack HTC at the higher end of the smartphone spectrum, even as the other focuses on devices further down the food chain. Judging from the sparse details available, it appears buyers in the US and Europe won't have the option of buying a metal Galaxy S5 or plastic HTC One (M8), which is likely to disappoint some die-hard fans of each manufacturer. - Will Apple go metal or plastic for iPhone 6? We've got the latest news.
       | | Samsung and HTC may pull a smartphone casing switcheroo Apr 15th 2014, 17:58, by JR Bookwalter
Samsung has been taking it on the chin from critics and customers alike for its flimsy plastic smartphone housings, but a new report claims the Korean company may soon switch places with HTC for a metal chassis. DigiTimes had its ear to the ground, turning up a pair of rumors straight from the supply chains of Android smartphone kingpins HTC and Samsung, which may soon be feeling a sense of déjà vu. While the two manufacturers seem to have differing philosophies when it comes to what the casing of their flagship handsets should be made from, the report claims HTC could soon offer a version of the HTC One (M8) with a cheaper plastic housing. The rumor of an iPhone 5C-like M8 also cropped up April 14. Sources close to Samsung claim the company also appears to be considering a switch of its own, with a variant of the just-released Galaxy S5 that features a "metal-alloy chassis" instead of plastic - a rumor that has persisted since last fall. Different strokesThe shift from metal to plastic appears to be purely economical on HTC's part as a move to target the "entry-level to mid-range" smartphone market in Asia, where devices costing $700 or more are considered a luxury. Supply chain sources claim HTC could reduce the contract-free price of its HTC One (M8) to as little as about AU$428 in such markets, simply by switching from metal to plastic. The report paints Samsung's own about-face from plastic to metal as more of a defensive move intended to attack HTC at the higher end of the smartphone spectrum, even as the other focuses on devices further down the food chain. Judging from the sparse details available, it appears buyers in the US and Europe won't have the option of buying a metal Galaxy S5 or plastic HTC One (M8), which is likely to disappoint some die-hard fans of each manufacturer. - Will Apple go metal or plastic for iPhone 6? We've got the latest news.
  | | Here's our first look at the Amazon phone, apparently Apr 15th 2014, 15:39, by Hugh Langley 
Amazon's phone may have just made its first appearance for the camera, if these new pictures are to be trusted. The pictures posted by BGR show a handset with five front-facing cameras which corroborates previous rumours that the phone will be able to track our heads in order to produce 3D effects. There's also another camera on the rear, while the screen is reportedly a 4.7-inch 720p deal. Inside, we're told, is an unspecified Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 2GB of RAM. 
Meanwhile, TechCrunch is reporting that Amazon's phone will only offer "limited 3D effects" out of the box, with the main features reserved for "just a few built-in gestures." Amazon's said to be working on two different phones, but only the high-end flagship, codenamed Duke, will pack the fancy feature. Duke it outDuke will come with a heavily forked version of Android that uses parallax effects "similar" to iOS, but to a more extreme degree which should offer a glasses-free 3D illusion. BGR says that the second, entry-level phone will follow "sometime after" the flagship and will have a "very competitive" retail price. 3D has been tried on phones before - we're looking at you, LG Optimus 3D - but has never quite taken off. So it'll be interesting to see how Amazon plans to change the game. Word on the street right now is that Amazon's phone will make its big debut in June. Hold onto your hats.        | |
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