Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 04-02-2014

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Build 2014: Windows Phone 8.1 springs into view, complete with Cortana Apr 2nd 2014, 15:37, by Michelle Fitzsimmons Microsoft has taken the wraps off Windows Phone 8.1, the next edition of its mobile OS, at Build 2014. The update comes complete with an Action Center, as was widely rumored. CVP Joe Belfiore introduced the new center, highlighting its ability to keep users informed of what's going on with their phone, such as better battery life readings. Perhaps most importantly of all, Windows Phone 8.1 breathes life into Cortana, Microsoft's new personal assistant. She's powered by Bing, and replaces the search function on Windows Phone. Belfiore demoed Cortana on stage, showing off her ability to set reminders, read text messages, find search results (like the best Mexican restaurants in Palo Alto) and much more. Belfiore explained that with user permission, Cortana will read users emails, gaining access to info like flight schedules. Personalizing Windows Phone Personalization is clearly a big focus with the update, and Belfiore even said that the changes in store are all about personalizing the mobile phone experience. Users will also be able to customize their lock screen as well as their live tile themes. With Windows Phone 8.1, users will also be able to choose what they're on-screen start screen look like. There are also a number of apps getting an update with Windows Phone 8.1, including Skype. We're getting details as they come in, so stay tuned for more. More to follow... Build 2014: Microsoft's Siri rival is really called Cortana - and it has some advantages over Apple Apr 2nd 2014, 15:30, by Michael Rougeau Microsoft began its Build 2014 conference with an announcement that we've been expecting for a while: there's a Siri rival built into Windows Phone 8.1, and its name is Cortana. Cortana is also the name of the artificial intelligence character in the Halo video game series, of course, and Microsoft is taking full advantage of that fact. Corporate Vice President of Operating Systems Group Joe Belfiore introduced the virtual personal assistant, asking her whether she likes her name and her appearance, to which she replied that she resembles, among other things, "a halo." Good one, Microsoft. Cortana gets her own live tile in Windows Phone 8.1., but that's only one way to access her - she also replaces the search function in the mobile OS. A leg up Users interact with Cortana with natural voice commands and requests, Belfiore demonstrated. You can also type complex requests directly to her. "Like a real personal assistant, she's good at handling your communications and your calendar," he said. "She's also good at helping you learn things." He asked her about calendar entries and added items to his to-do list, and she informed him about a conflict in his calendar. Cortana even asks your permission to read your email, Belfiore said - unlike the NSA. More importantly, Cortana can also be "extended" by third-party apps - unlike Siri. Belfiore asked Cortana about Mexican restaurants, to which she replied using data from Yelp. Belfiore revealed that Cortana will launch as a beta - there were a few hiccups during the demo, when she misinterpreted or misheard some of Belfiore's commands. So maybe she's not all that different from Siri after all. Developing… Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini leak reveals water resistance and decent screen Apr 2nd 2014, 11:35, by John McCann The Galaxy S4 Mini didn't exactly blow us away with its relatively mediocre specs last year, but things are looking up for the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini. Details of the Korean firm's next pared down smartphone have been dug up by Sam Mobile, who claim its sources have spilled the beans on the new handset. According to the insiders the Galaxy S5 Mini will rock up with a 4.5-inch 720p display, quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front facing snapper and Android 4.4 KitKat. Oh, and it'll also inherit the dust and water resistant body of its older sibling, which puts another feather in the S5 Mini's hat. The signs are good They're not exactly the top-end specs found in the full fat Samsung Galaxy S5, but we weren't expecting the Galaxy S5 Mini to go down the route of the Xperia Z1 Compact. The boost in screen resolution from 960 x 540 on the Galaxy S4 Mini to 1280 x 720 will probably be the most welcome upgrade, and along with the latest version of Android and some half decent cameras the S5 Mini is shaping up to be a pretty decent offering. Obviously we're unable to confirm the authenticity of the sources, so we're going to have to hold out for the official announcement, expected towards the end of April or beginning of May. Here's how the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini fared in our in-depth review The best HTC One M8 deals Apr 2nd 2014, 11:00, by James Rogerson Best 4G HTC One M8 deals Interested in the HTC One M8 but baulking at the price tag? Don't worry, we know how you feel. It's almost too shiny to resist but with such a stunning build and so much power comes a fairly steep cost. But while you're certainly going to have to shell out a fair bit to get your hands on one there are some pretty good deals floating around and we've done the hard work for you by collecting them all in one place. So grab a coffee, say some parting words to whatever handset you're currently rocking and read on to find the best HTC One M8 deal for you. A word of warning before we get started, the HTC One M8 supports nanoSIMs which are smaller than the SIM you may be already using. In fact only the M8, iPhone 5S, 5C, 5 and Moto X support this tiny card so you'll need to get your network to send you a new SIM to pop in the handset. 4G on Three If you're going to splash out on a world beating super phone, you might as well make the most of it and get some super fast 4G internet to go with it. Three is the obvious choice to go with, being the only network to offer unlimited 4G data and its got some fairly good prices too. For example on a 24 month contract you can get the HTC One M8 for £41 per month with unlimited data, unlimited texts and 600 minutes, though there is a £49 upfront cost for the handset. Over the life of the contract that amounts to £1,033. Alternatively if 600 minutes isn't enough for you Three also sells the HTC One M8 for £44 per month on a 24 month contract with unlimited minutes, data and texts, alongside the same £49 upfront charge. That comes in at a slightly steeper £1,105 over 24 months, but has the advantage of never having to worry about any allowances. Both of those deals are for the grey version of the handset. 4G on Vodafone Vodafone also has some tempting 4G deals, which is good news if you're currently with the big red and don't fancy switching networks. For £47 per month you can get the HTC One M8 in silver with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 3GB of data. Better yet there's no upfront cost, so over the 24 months of the contract it amounts to £1,128. While that is slightly more than Three and it has data limits, Vodafone offers 6 months free of Spotify Premium or Sky Sports Mobile TV to sweeten the deal. 4G on EE While EE can't match Three for data allowances it does have far and away the most wide reaching 4G network right now, so you'll actually be able to make use of 4G speeds in more places. Currently you can get the grey version of the HTC One M8 for just £29.99 per month and that comes with 2GB of data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts. It does carry a £69.99 upfront cost and over the course of 24 months it will set you back just £789.75, making it one of the most affordable deals. 4G on O2 O2 is also getting in on the M8 love. You can get the handset in grey, silver or gold with 5GB of data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts for £38 per month, along with an upfront cost of £99. That comes out at £1,011 over 24 months, which is a similar price to Vodafone and has a similar amount of 4G coverage. Plus, like some of the Vodafone deals it's eligible for £100 cashback, taking your total outlay down to £911. Alternatively if you don't need that much data you can get the phone for even cheaper. O2 are doing it for £38 per month with 1GB of data, unlimited minutes and texts and just £49 upfront, with the same £100 cashback offer, which amounts to £961 over 24 months, not including the cashback. Really though it's probably worth spending the extra £50 and getting 4GB of additional data every month. Best 3G HTC One M8 deals 4G isn't for everyone - perhaps your budget doesn't stretch that far, or 4G hasn't arrived in your area yet. In this case there are a variety of top notch 3G HTC One M8 deals for you to pick from. As you won't be able to harness the superfast 4G speeds these 3G contacts are cheaper, but your web browsing capabilities should still be respectable if you've got decent reception. 3G on Vodafone If you're not fussed about 4G you might be able to save yourself a bit of money. Vodafone is offering the silver version of the HTC One M8 for just £33 per month with 1GB of data, unlimited minutes and texts and a £19.99 upfront cost, which comes out at £811.99 over 24 months. If you don't want to commit to a 24 month contract Vodafone also has some 12 month deals. The grey version can be had for £47 per month with unlimited minutes and texts, 1GB of data and a £114.99 upfront cost, amounting to £678.99 in total. In a sense that makes it one of the most expensive deals available, as you only get 12 months worth of data, minutes and texts. Still, it does free you up to easily swap it for whatever HTC brings out next year. For ever so slightly more you can get it with 2GB of data along with unlimited texts and internet. That comes out at £52 per month and has an £89.99 upfront charge, which means that over 12 months it will cost you £713.99, which for double the data is probably worth it. Currently Vodafone is the only network offering the HTC One M8 on 12 month tariffs, so there are few options if that's what you want. 3G on T-Mobile Three might be the only network to offer unlimited 4G data, but if you're happy with just 3G then T-Mobile can give you unlimited data too. The HTC One M8 is available in grey from T-Mobile with 500 minutes, unlimited data and unlimited texts for £37.99 per month along with a £29.99 upfront fee. Over the life of the contract it will cost you £941.75. You can also get it in silver with the same 500 minutes, unlimited data and unlimited text allowances for just £27.99 per month, but at £139.99 the upfront cost is a lot higher. Still, at an overall cost of £811.75 over 24 months it's ultimately a better value proposition. 3G on Orange Prices on Orange are similar to T-Mobile, but come with different allowances. You can, for example, get the handset in gold for £37.99 per month at just £29.99 upfront, but while it comes with unlimited minutes and texts it only includes 1GB of data. So at £941.75 over 24 months it's the same price as you can get it for on T-Mobile, but you get more minutes and less data. While there are other deals out there and more likely to be added over time these are the among the best around right now. So pick a network and data requirement and get shopping! Not sure the HTC One (M8) is for you? The Samsung Galaxy S5 is just around the corner and will give the M8 a run for its money. Updated: BT Sport set for Chromecast, hopefully in time for Premier League climax Apr 2nd 2014, 10:56, by Chris Smith Update: A BT spokesperson told TechRadar: "BT Sport is not currently available via Chromecast, we think it is an exciting innovation, but cannot give any further information at the moment." Original story below... British Telecom has reportedly confirmed its BT Sport channels are about to gain Google Chromecast support, allowing subscribers to beam the channels directly to televisions equipped with the £30 dongle. The telecoms giant told the Financial Times the channels would be available to stream to the dongle (although only for BT Broadband subscribers), presumably via the BT Sport apps. A swift roll out would give Chromecast owners a chance to view the Premier League run-in on their televisions without the need for a set-top box from the likes of YouView and BT Vision. However, the BT is yet to confirm publicly if and when the roll-out will take place. Apple TV rival The Chromecast dongle, a rival to Apple's AirPlay platform, finally launched in the UK last month, following a prolonged wait for Brits seeking to get in on the streaming action. It gives mobile device owners the opportunity to beam games, video, web and audio content to their living room television set. So far the only broadcaster to incorporate the functionality into its app is the BBC, through its iPlayer app. Sky has also admitted it is considering adding Now TV to the mix, while Netflix also supports the dongle. Google tells TechRadar it is "overwhelmed" by Chromecast popularity Monster Windows Phone handset spotted with 2K display and impressive power Apr 2nd 2014, 10:37, by John McCann A smartphone with the very latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, Andreno 420 GPU and Quad HD display may sound like the next big Android handset - but apparently this device is running Windows Phone. According to be bennchmark test on GFXBench we could be in for a Windows Phone treat after a handset sporting these credentials showed up. Going by the moniker Qualcomm LiQUID, the handset apparently boasts a 1440 x 2560 resolution which would see it trump the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8. Can I get a reference? This is likely a reference device being used by Qualcomm to test out its new Snapdragon 805 chip on Windows Phone, so while this particular model may never see the light of day it bodes well for future devices. We're hoping that Microsoft will give us an insight into the future of its mobile platform and Windows Phone 8.1 during its Build conference this week. TechRadar will be reporting live from Build, so stay tuned for all the latest from the show. Build 2014: what to expect from Microsoft's developer conference Is Huawei about to go after the HTC One M8? Apr 2nd 2014, 09:18, by John McCann Chinese manufacturer Huawei has been noticabley quiet at the top end of the mobile market so far in 2014, with no big headlining launch at either CES or MWC. That's not to say it hasn't go anything in the works, and two new leaks suggests it's got a couple of smartphones up its high-end sleeve. First up is news of the Huawei Ascend P7, a handset which had been rumoured for CES and then MWC but failed to appear at either show. New images supposedly showing the device have appeared on social network Weibo, although there isn't an obvious difference between the P7 and the Ascend P6. Previous rumours have suggested the Ascend P7 will arrive with some decent specs including a 5-inch full HD display, quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 13MP rear camera and a beefy 8MP front snapper. Watch out M8 The more interesting of the leaks however is a picture posted by a Huawei engineer on Weibo, apparently showing the all-metal rear of the firm's next flagship smartphone. It's said to be in line for Huawei's Kirin 920 octa-core processor, but what's really got people talking is the second hole in the rear plate of the device. This is unlikely to be a dual-camera setup like the one on the HTC One M8, and rather a spot for a fingerprint scanner, very similar in location to the One Max. The picture of the metal rear also came with a note from the poster that you might want to start saving now, as it's not going to be cheap. It's not clear when Huawei is planning to launch either of these handset, or indeed if either of them actually exist, but with the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and HTC One M8 already announced it's going to have to come up with something pretty special to get noticed. The best all-metal smartphone on the market is the One M8 Round Up: 7 gadgets to keep track of the things that matter most to you Apr 2nd 2014, 03:40, by Jessica Naziri and Farrha Khan Tile, StickR TrackR and Locca In a world with so much stuff, from phones and chargers to cameras and even the dog, it's hard to keep tabs on all of your valuables. There are hurried cab rides, and so-called friends and family who like to "borrow" your stuff without asking, only to have said stuff go missing. Or maybe you're the forgetful type who's prone to "misplacing" your keys and wallet. Whatever the case, you have no idea where it might be, you need it now and you can't find it. Thankfully there are a slew of devices that can help to locate your lost items. These small gadgets and apps work by affixing a GPS-like tracker to objects like laptops, handbags and bikes, which makes it easy to find them if you ever lose track of where they are. We've rounded up seven great tracking gadgets with alternative options to help you monitor your essentials and prevent you from actually losing your mind. Tile You can't get back all of those lost keys, wallets and remote controllers that have mysteriously vanished over the years, but thanks to a new device called Tile, you may never lose anything else again. Tile can either be stuck to objects or affixed with a key ring and lets you track items you often misplace using a companion app for iOS. The slim and waterproof tracking device will show you the last known location of the item on a map as well as a radar style view of how far away you are from it, as long as you're within the 50-150 foot range. A tiny speaker inside each Tile emits a little beep, helping you zero-in for the find once you're close by, with a "warmer, warmer"-style direction to the object. One thing that sets this device apart from the many others on this list is that the Tile iPhone app works via crowd-sourcing. Tiles communicate with one another, effectively having other users help you find what you've lost. For example, when someone else who uses the app walks past your lost Tile-touting object, the location of your Tile is updated for you, which makes it far more invaluable than a device on its own, especially if it's been stolen. Price: You can pre-order from the Tile website for shipment after June for US$19.95 (about AU$21.58) per Tile, plus US$14 (about 15.14) shipping to Australia or New Zealand. Phone Halo StickR TrackR Bluetooth is nice for pairing your phone with your car, but for finding your lost keys? If an item goes missing, the StickR TrackR alerts users via a Bluetooth connection to map your items within 100 feet, using the TrackR iOS and Android app. As long as you can stick or hang the coin-sized device on your item, StickR TrackR can locate it and track up to 10 lost items. The best part? You can make the misplaced item ring and use proximity detection to locate it. The StickR TrackR will remind you before you leave your phone behind for the day with a two-way separation alert. And just in case you don't hear the alert, the app will display a map where you left your valuable items. If you're ever out of range of your item, Crowd Source Tracking feature allows it to be found on your mobile device if another person using TrackR gets close to it. Price: The StickR TrackR costs US$24.95 (about AU$26.99), and there are no additional GPS fees after the initial cost aside from battery replacement, which lasts around six months. Locca What if you could locate anyone, anywhere, at anytime? That's exactly what the Austrian company, Locca, is trying to do with its two separate versions of the Locca device; the LoccaMini for tracking objects like bikes and handbags and the LoccaPhone for tracking children and cars. Unlike the other tracking devices we've covered so far, the Locca is equipped with a pre-installed SIM card inside its trackers and can monitor objects without needing your smartphone to be nearby. Once the tags are in place, users can consult the Locca mobile app to find out the location of each tracked object or person in real time. When an object moves away from a designated safety area, the LoccaMini alerts the user via a smartphone, tablet or computer, regardless of how far away they are (its service will initially cover the US, Canada and Europe and expand to more countries in late 2014). The LoccaPhone goes beyond simple tracking and has the added ability to perform two-way communication, which is perfect for children and the elderly. The device has an SOS feature that allows the wearer of the box to call an emergency contact of their choice simply by pressing a button. Price: LoccaMini packs prices range from US$135 to US$176 (which is about AU$146.04 to AU$190.39), including a charger, cases for each tag and a six-month service fee. The LoccaPhone is priced between US$203 and US$216 (about AU$219.60 to AU$233.67). Details available on the Locca website. Gecko, WiseButton, Proximo and Guardian Gecko You can track and secure everything from your home, to your pets and, heck, even your kids with the Gecko tracker, which has a motion sensor and GPS system built in. Gecko trackers are about the size of a quarter and can be adhered to any object to track its whereabouts via the iOS app. Once you tag an item with Gecko's detection feature, it remembers where you left your item and alerts you when it moves. Tag your window to get alerts when it's opened or closed. Tag a pillbox to get a notification when you or a loved one hasn't taken their medication at the scheduled time that day. You can even use Gecko as a smart leash for your pet and get an alert when it leaves a 100-foot radius. But there's more. Gecko can also be used as a camera trigger and can skip music tracks using gestures. Price: Gecko is only available for pre-order for US$35 a device (about AU$37.86), but the company doesn't actually state when they expect them to ship. WiseButton The WiseButton is a great little addition to any household with plenty of gadgets to operate and devices to keep track of. This keychain-sized device is dubbed as a universal remote control and tracker and it is compatible with all operating systems, including as Android, iOS and Windows Phone, so you shouldn't encounter any interface issues when using it. The WiseButton has an alarm option that alerts you when your device is more than 20 feet away. This device-seeking device can be located using the gadget you hooked it up to in case one of them goes missing and until the battery runs out, of course. But that will take about a month before you need to charge it via USB. Price: WiseButton retails for US$27, or about AU$29.21. Kensington Proximo Keys have a special ability to disappear right when you're looking for them. Proximo key fob and tab is a great solution for the forgetful, helping you track down lost items like electronics and keys and, best of all, preventing losses in the first place. The setup is easy and the system can track up to five items concurrently, with the iPhone and Galaxy S app showing their distance and pinging up a warning if you're leaving them behind. Price: The Proximo Starter Kit is priced at US$59.99 (about AU$64.90), while each additional Tag is US$24.99 (about AU$27.03). Guardian With Guardian you'll never lose track of your kids again, until they get beyond 230 feet, in which case, you're on your own. The device can be worn like a wristband or belt buckle, and acts almost like a virtual leash. Guardian communicates with the parents' phone via Bluetooth, so if the child wanders (or is taken) away beyond a per-determined safety perimeter, an alert sounds and appears on the phone. Not only is Guardian a way to keep track of the most important people in your life, but it also offers some peace of mind on the side. Price: Guardian is available for US$29.95 (about AU$32.40). As for that other valuable thing... The idea behind most of these devices is that you tack them onto something important to you and register them with an app on your phone using Bluetooth, and you'll be able to track where it was and receive an alert with the last known location. So hopefully, your smartphone is not the lost item you're looking for. In that case, if you're not using something like Apple's 'Find My Phone' app, you could always resort to the fail-proof method of calling your own phone to see if it's nearby. Are we headed toward a wearable future? Matt Swider breaks it down Apple said to be sizing up chipmaker for better displays, less battery drain Apr 1st 2014, 20:57, by JR Bookwalter Apple is known for making stealth purchases, but the company's rumored latest just got some air time. Japan's Nikkei filed a report today claiming Apple's next acquisition will take place in Japan, with a majority buyout of the company that produces controller chips for smaller LCD panels, like those used in smartphones. In a deal said to be valued at 50 billion yen (about $482m, £290m and AU$521m), Apple apparently hopes to consume Renesas Electronics' 55% stake in Renesas SP Drivers, a joint venture with Sharp and Powerchip. Renesas SP currently dominates nearly one-third of the global market for LCD drivers and controllers, focusing its efforts on higher quality, better performing displays that consume less energy. Cornering LCD chips Although Apple generally doesn't put all of its eggs into one basket when it comes to components, Renesas SP Drivers reportedly provides all of the chips powering the liquid crystal displays for the company's iPhone line. The deal could give Apple yet another a leg up on competitors, especially when Renesas SP chips are said to utilize less than 10% of overall battery consumption. The report notes that Apple hopes to close the deal by summer, and plans to keep the staff of "240 or so" employees in Japan. Cupertino is also said to be interested in absorbing Sharp's 25% share after the Renesas deal closes, leaving Taiwanese manufacturer Powerchip with a remaining 20% ownership. Find out all the latest details on Apple's next iPhone 6! Apple eyes Japanese chipmaker buyout for better iPhone displays Apr 1st 2014, 20:57, by JR Bookwalter Although the rumor mill tends to focus on what's happening inside Apple's Asian manufacturing facilities, the real action appears to be taking place in Japan, where the iPhone maker may be eyeing its next big investment in the future. Nikkei Asian Review filed a report today claiming Apple's next acquisition will take place in Japan, with a majority buyout of the company who produces controller chips for smaller LCD panels such as those used in smartphones. In a deal said to be valued at 50 billion yen (about AU$521 million), Apple apparently hopes to consume Renesas Electronics' 55 percent stake in Renesas SP Drivers, a joint venture with Sharp and Powerchip. Renesas SP currently dominates nearly one-third of the global market for LCD drivers and controllers, focusing its efforts on higher quality, better performing displays which consume less energy. Cornering LCD chips Although Apple generally doesn't put all of its eggs into one basket when it comes to components, Renesas SP Drivers reportedly provides all of the chips powering the liquid crystal displays (LCD) for the company's iPhone line. The deal could give Apple yet another a leg up on competitors, especially when Renesas SP chips are said to utilize less than 10 percent of overall battery consumption. The report notes that Apple hopes to close the deal by summer, and plans to keep the staff of "240 or so" employees in Japan, rather than move their work to its Cupertino headquarters. Cupertino is also said to be interested in absorbing Sharp's 25 percent share after the Renesas deal closes, leaving Taiwanese manufacturer Powerchip with a remaining 20 percent ownership. Find out all the latest details on Apple's next iPhone 6! Google's next adventure? Completely overhauling the Android camera app Apr 1st 2014, 18:40, by klee Google has been steadily improving the camera for the Nexus 5, and soon it may impart some much-needed improvements to all Android users. Insiders aware of Google's plans confirmed to Engadget that the search company is testing a new version of the built-in camera app for Android. The sources said the new camera will come with a refreshed user interface and a 100% viewfinder. This means users will be able to see a completely uncropped version of what they're capturing through the screen before they hit the shutter button. The camera app Android deserves Other improvements were also highlighted, including one that will add a background blurring effect for portrait pictures. With the effect, Android phones will create photos that simulate the shallow depth of field and bokeh effect of large aperture lenses. Higher-resolution panorama and Photo Sphere modes are also purported to be included with this next camera update. What's more, the search company will supposedly open up the camera app with support for third-party filters. If it really happens, this would allow developers and die-hard smartphone shooters to create and import custom effects to the official camera app. Improvements for all While the spread of different Android versions is still pretty mixed with some devices still running slightly older versions of Android KitKat, the insiders indicated that the new camera app will come separately. Supposedly any non-Nexus owners using an phone running Android 4.4 or higher will be able to take advantage of the improvements. The alleged software patch for the camera will come separate from the rumored Android 4.4.3 update we reported on last week. It was then we heard the next version of KitKat would only provide a small fix to remove the Nexus 5's blue tint issues. Any other features remain unknown. The new HTC One (M8) has a pretty nifty dual-sensor camera. See what it can do in our review! Larger iPhone 6's 2014 release could be on the rocks Apr 1st 2014, 18:23, by Chris Smith The heavily rumoured 5-inch-plus screen iteration of the iPhone 6 reportedly faces a production delay of "several months," which would make a 2014 release unlikely. Reuters' sources claim a smaller 4.7-inch model will enter production next month ahead of the traditional autumn release schedule, but those seeking a phablet-sized version may have to wait until the new year. The issue, the report alleges, is "difficulties with in-cell production technology for the larger 5.5-inch size," which is apparently being deployed to allow the device to slim down compared with the iPhone 5. Those troubles have convinced Apple to press on with the production of the 4.7-inch version, Reuters writes, in order to ensure at least one new iPhone will be out in time for the Christmas rush. Phabulous A larger iPhone 6 would answer the clamouring from Apple fans for a device size capable of competing with the Samsung Galaxy series and the HTC One range, as well as phablets like the Galaxy Note 3. Apple has been reticent to boost the size of its iPhone display, with the 4-inch screens on the iPhone 5, iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S smaller than many of the devices other leading manufacturers brand as 'mini.' Of course we're all used to these ten-a-penny reports relating to iPhone display sizes, so we'd be inclined to keep Reuters' latest in the speculation column, rather than allowing it to dictate your buying plans for the year. In the meantime, be sure to take a gander at what the iPhone 6 should look like in our video below. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y6ZAH8c1MM

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