Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 04-26-2014

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LG G3 reportedly appears in the wild with redesigned rear volume rocker Apr 26th 2014, 14:20, by Chris Smith The impressive LG G2 was the surprise smartphone hit of 2013, but the decision to place the volume buttons on the back of the device wasn't so popular with everyone. Judging by a leaked snapshot, unearthed by GSM Arena, LG plans to keep the design feature in place for the forthcoming LG G3, but with some refinements. However, changes may be afoot. The shot appears to show flatter volume buttons, which will please potential buyers who swerved the LG G2 because of the protruding design and the inability to it flat. While the photo doesn't show an awful lot more, there does appear to be an undefined, additional sensor next to the camera lens. The sensor's purpose isn't clear at this time. Key specs Beyond the handset itself, the photo also features a notepad appearing to outline a couple of key specs. It mentions "OIS+" which we presume means optical image stabilisation, while also mentioning 16GB and 32GB storage options, while the presence of the text 2GB and 3GB surely makes reference to on-board RAM. Previous speculation has suggested the LG G3 will offer a tremendous array of top-line specs, including a 1440 x 2560 2K display, an octo-core Odin processor, built by LG itself, a 13-megapixel camera and Android 4.4 KitKat. Is the LG G3 on your gadget wishlist this summer? Let us know why in the comments section below. LG G3: What we know so far Apple pledges to replace faulty iPhone 5 sleep/wake buttons Apr 26th 2014, 13:23, by Chris Smith Apple has offered to replace malfunctioning or broken iPhone 5 power buttons for free. Affected users in the US are able to submit their claim through Apple's support website, while iPhone 5 owners around the world can get in on the action from May 2. Users will need to enter their phone's serial number through the replacement programme's website and then drop the handset off at an Apple retail store or mail it in order for it to be repaired. Apple has specified that if there is any damage to the phone that impairs the replacement - such as a cracked screen - that must be addressed before the new sleep/wake button is fitted. Recalls Replacement programs are rare, but not unprecedented for Apple. Other recalls have seen iPod nanos brought in due to overheating concerns and problems with flash memory drives on MacBook Air laptops. The only prior instance for the iPhone is the infamous 'Antennagate' iPhone 4 issue, which saw signal fall when the device was gripped in a certain way. In that case Apple offered 'bumper' cases for all affected users. 5 reasons the OnePlus One could be your next smartphone Apr 26th 2014, 12:00, by John McCann 5 reasons to buy the OnePlus One The OnePlus One could well be the surprise smartphone of 2014 with its low, low price and headline specs. There's a lot to get excited about with the One, and we've highlighted the main reasons why you might want to think about parting with your cash and pick one up at the first opportunity. It's not all good news though, as you'll find out later, as this budget blowout also has a few issues, so put that money back in your wallet... for now. Read our hands on: OnePlus One review The price is right The OnePlus One is cheap. Really cheap. Seriously - $299, £229 for a handset which has better specs than the Nexus 5 and matches the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and Sony Xperia Z2 in a number of areas is an absolute steal. OnePlus has also put the rest of the market to shame with the pricing of the 64GB model, which is just $50, £40 (around $AU70) dearer than the 16GB variant - that really sticks it to the likes of Apple where you'll find a $200 (£160, AU$260) discrepancy between the 16GB and 64GB iPhone 5S. You can feel the power As we've alluded to, the OnePlus One comes very well equipped with a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, Adreno 330 GPU. That puts it on a par with the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2 - handsets more than double the price of the humble OnePlus One - and it beats the One M8 which sports 2GB of RAM and a 2.3GHz 801 chip. It's Android Jim, but not as you know it At the heart of the OnePlus One you'll find Android 4.4.2 KitKat - the latest version of Google's platform. That in itself is good news, but this isn't your standard version of Android. No, this is CyanogenMod 11S - a community driven program which embraces pure Android and enhances it with various additional features. There's no heavy overlay like HTC's Sense or Samsung's TouchWiz; instead CyanogenMod is far more subtle in its implementation. From app shortcuts integrated into the unlock mechanism and double tap for wake/sleep to a whole host of additional settings and greater personalisation options you really can tweak and tinker to your heart's content - something which will please those fed up with the more intrusive skins from the main manufacturers. What is CyanogenMod? Something for your eyes One of the main features that usually suffers when a manufacturer attempts to roll out a low cost, yet "high-end", handset is the screen. That isn't the case on the OnePlus One. You get a 5.5-inch full HD display on the handset which gives a high level of detail, making your movies, games and even emails look splendid. It's not quite as defined as its flagship rivals as their slightly smaller screens (ranging from 5 to 5.2 inches) allow for a higher pixel density, and colours can look a little washed out on the OnePlus in comparison. On its own though you're unlikely to have any complaints. Check out this package With a price this cheap we're obviously looking for areas where OnePlus has had to compromise on the One, but we're still at a loss. As well as the power, screen and operating system you can also add a 13MP rear camera, 5MP front facing snapper, 4G, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1 and 3100mAh battery to the growing list of impressive specs. The back cover comes off too - albeit with a bit of difficulty, and you have to remove the SIM tray first - allowing you to swap it for a different colour or texture. OnePlus has promised a range of different covers for the One later this year and finishes include denim, wood, bamboo and kevlar. Make of that what you will. 4 reasons to avoid the OnePlus One But it's not all roses and magic gravy with the OnePlus One, as the pre-production sample we've been playing with does still pack one or two issues that raised eyebrows when we delved a bit deeper. The storage The OnePlus One will no doubt pique the interest of many developers, tech enthusiasts and power users thanks to its CyanogenMod interface, and these are the type of users who will want as much storage as possible. Plump for the 16GB "Silk White" One Plus One though and you actually only get 12GB of internal storage after you've taken the operating system into account. That in itself wouldn't be an issue if there were a microSD slot - but alas you'll have no such joy on the One. Of course there is always the 64GB "Sandstone Black" model, which is just $50/£40 dearer, but it still doesn't provide the flexibility of expandable storage. You could always get a USB-on-the-go adaptor to plug in a microSD card through the charging port, but that's not integrated into the phone. The battery The OnePlus One is lining up to be the go-to power handset on a budget, but anyone who wants a phone they can really hammer won't be too impressed at the fact you can't swap the battery out. You can remove the rear cover of the One, but that's purely to swap it for a different colour. The 3100mAh battery may look removable, but it's not, so don't go trying to pry it away from the chassis. It'll end badly. The size It may be cheap, but the OnePlus isn't exactly small. That's hardly surprisingly considering it's packing a 5.5-inch display, but it does mean it can be a little unwieldy in the hand. Those with smaller palms may struggle to properly manipulate the OnePlus One using a single paw, and even those with larger limbs will find two-handed typing far more secure. The unknown Who the hell is OnePlus? Well, okay, we know the answer to that one. It's a Chinese firm set up by ex-Oppo employees (another Chinese phone manufacturer). The thing is, with such a low price tag and top end specs, the profit margin on each handset is likely to be minimal. Can a fledgling mobile manufacturer really sustain itself in the cut throat mobile market with such fine margins? We fear for the longevity of the company, and the subsequent support of the OnePlus One. It's certainly more of a risk than buying from an already well established brand, although we've no reason to suspect this could happen with OnePlus at this stage. We're currently awaiting our full review sample of the OnePlus One to see if it can be a real winner from left-field - the negative points we've outlined above are currently far outweighed by the positives, and if it can sustain this challenge then the likes of Samsung, Sony and HTC could have a real contender on their hands. At the very least it will ask some questions as to why these larger brands are charging so much more for a flagship handset, and anything that keeps the smartphone market shaking is a good thing in our eyes. IN DEPTH: Google IO 2014: 10 things we expect Apr 25th 2014, 22:22, by Matt Swider Upgrades to existing Google hardware Narrowing Google IO 2014 predictions to ten is no simple task. The search engine giant snapped up several companies in the last 12 months and unveiled just as many new products. That means intimidating-looking robots, smart home technology and smartwatches are among the rumors for the Google IO keynote. It's officially scheduled to kick off on June 25. You won't be able to see any of this year's surprises in person if you missed the now-closed registration. Google IO tickets were sold in a lottery and exorbitantly priced, the same as Apple is doing with WWDC 2014. The good news is that there will be a Google IO live stream to watch the events on both the June 25 and June 26 dates. Hangout sessions are scheduled for in-depth developer broadcasts. Even better for anxious fans of the Android company, we have a list of Google IO rumors and predictions before the event gets underway. There's no ticket lottery or registration fee required. 1. Android 5.0 to get the lemon or limelight It's about time we see an L-themed Android 5 update. The Google IO dates fall nine months after KitKat 4.4 was announced and we're in the mood for a summer-appropriate citrus name. Whether the next Android firmware name has us snacking on lemonade, lime or liquorice treats is unknown. We do know that Google announces Android updates every five to eight months; Ice Cream Sandwich came out eight months after Honeycomb and Jelly Bean 4.1 came out eight months after ICS. Jelly Bean 4.2, 4.3 and KitKat 4.4 averaged five months between them. New features could include better cross-platform messaging integration and new apps that take into account Google's forthcoming line of smartwatches. Google Voice is long overdue to be rolled into Google Hangouts, an app that has gobbled up text messaging, instant messaging and video calls into one location in recent months. The native Android dialer is also reportedly due for an upgrade, but that change may come with a minor Android 4.4.3 update ahead of Google IO. 2. Updates to Nexus 10, Chromebook Pixel 2 Google typically introduces Android updates with new hardware. That's perfect because it needs a new larger Nexus tablet to compete with the redesigned 9.7-inch iPad Air. The Nexus 10 2014 would do the trick, but it may not come from Samsung. The South Korean electronics giant is doing its own 10-inch thing with the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Asus and LG could easily fill that role and have provided Google with Nexus hardware before. In fact, Asus may already making a Nexus 8 tab to replace its popular Nexus 7 later this year. New Chrome OS features at Google IO could be delivered through a Chromebook Pixel refresh even though the laptop's existing specs are strong. It's the price that needs to come down. A Chromebook Pixel 2 could be why the Google Play Store is currently out of stock of Google's premium notebook with a square-shaped. 3. It's time for a Google watch Smartwatches powered by Google's Android Wear platform are expected at the conference, but we don't foresee an official Google watch being announced just yet. Instead, both the square-shaped LG G Watch and the even more fashionable circular Mototola Moto 360 are due for their first on-stage appearance at Google IO. The difference between these two Android Wear watches and the equally sophisticated-looking Pebble Steel and Samsung Gear 2 comes down to predictive Google Now-like alerts. The company's intelligent software delivers relevant information to your wrist - from counting down the stops before you exit a public bus to Jellyfish warnings before entering the ocean. The rumored Apple iWatch is said to focus on fitness with Nike in tow, so expect Google to tout activity tracking features too. The Moto 360 and LG G Watch have summer release dates, right on top of Google IO, while Samsung, HTC and Fossil are expected to announce Android Wear watches in the near future. 4. More Google Glass, fewer skydiving stunts Google Glass isn't any less controversial than it was last year, but curious beta testers are still snatching up invites and paying its wild $1,500 (about £892, AU$1,618) price. That's good news for Google but it doesn't really bode well for its fans who want a Google Glass consumer version at a more affordable price coming out of the conference. Think about it. It'd be a slap in the face to everyone who bought Glass during April's much-hyped one-day sale to have a newer and cheaper version come out two months later. This only this would work is if Google gave all Explorers the consumer version for free. It would account for the steep built-in price when analysts have pegged the consumer edition at as little as $300 (about £178, AU$324). But that may be wishful thinking among Explorers. Instead, we expect more apps via Google's open Glass API to be announced along with a demo of what the new Android KitKat upgrade means for the wearable tech's future. The international rollout of Google Glass would please everyone in the UK and Australia and so would open enrollment that dropped all of the silly invite and timed-sale teasing. Anything more than a consumer version preview or a release date is unlikely, but a free Explorer Edition for attendees isn't a long shot given the cost of Google IO tickets. 5. More reasons to tune into Chromecast Google has sold a bunch of Chromecast dongles, but it doesn't mean much if there aren't more apps available for the inexpensive media streaming device. The company has a long way to go before it catches up to the app lists of the Apple TV, Roku 3 and similarly shaped Roku Streaming Stick. The new Amazon Fire TV set-top box is also hot on its trail thanks to Amazon Instant Video. It's an app that Google's device lacks along with a majority of sports apps. That could change at Google IO. We fully expect more app announcements and a personalized main menu with the weather and photos to come to the thumb drive-sized smart TV device. It's also a wonder why Chromecast doesn't fully support Android device mirroring, a trick that makes us love the iOS-projecting Apple TV. We could be in for a true AirPlay rival at Google IO. The New Class: Cars, robots and smarthome innovation 6. Google to rev up a CarPlay rival? Google beat Apple's iWatch to the punch with Android Wear, but their positions are curiously reversed when comes to in-dash car technology. It certainly seems to be taking a backseat to Apple CarPlay, an iOS-based infotainment system that was announced two months ago. Where exactly is "Android in the Car?" Google's infotainment system is still expected to be unveiled in 2014, which makes the June Google IO conference the appropriate rollout vehicle, if you will. The company doesn't have to do much to catch up. Just saying "We have Google Maps," should do the trick given its navigation track record and the performance history of Apple Maps. An all-in-one system for maps, messages and music could alleviate distracted driving and end up making the Android port to cars Google's most important new product category for 2014. Doubly, Google's infotainment system could potentially support Android and iOS devices, which would contrast with the iPhone-only Apple CarPlay. It'd be a bummer to have a friend unable to pipe a playlist through the stereo because they own a rival phone. This is where Google usually succeeds and Apple's walled-garden lets us down. The far-off Google self-driving car may also have us all sucked into the company's car ecosystem eventually, giving Google a trifecta: Maps, autonomous cars and capability. 7. An army of robot inventors for a robot army Larry Page and Sergey Brin may not be the only headline-worthy names to grace the Google IO stage. The co-founders' army of robots may be ready for their big debut. The company bought proven robot maker Boston Dynamics at the end of last year as well as six other robot manufacturers over the course of just eight days. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE3fmFTtP9g Google is clearly building an army of brainy robot designers in advance of building its real-life Android army, and it's tasking Android inventor Andy Rubin as their overseer. Are we in for a Jetsons-style future or are Google robots intended for manufacturing? The IO conference could give us a sense of why they're such an important talent-driven moonshot. 8. Building another Nest Also part of Google's "new class" is Nest Labs, the inventive home automation company that is bringing age-old appliances up to speed in our app-driven world. Google just started selling its intelligent Nest thermostat in the Google Play Store, and we could see its availability reach beyond the US, Canada and UK. It technically works in other countries. The Nest Protect smoke and CO2 detector, on the other hand, doesn't work 100% of the time in any country. An alarm feature can be disabled accidentally so sales have been suspended. A fix could be announced at Google IO along with more long-forgotten homes inventions that are in serious need of a tune up. How about a sink with a digital temperature setting so I don't burn my fingers when I want to wash my hands with warm water? Or a microwave that doesn't beep seven times late at night when I'm quietly re-heating leftovers? 9. More to the Project Ara LEGO phone Phone upgrades could happen piecemeal thanks to Google's Project Ara, an initiative to create a modular phone with upgradeable parts. It's an ambitious idea that doesn't exactly make room for ultra-slim form factors, but could save users money and reduce cell phone waste. It also doesn't have to stop at mod-friendly smartphones, either. The term "Internet of Things" was thrown around at the first Project Ara conference. Project Ara could lead to customizable tablets, smartwatches and laptops in the future, much to the delight of PC builders everywhere. 10. A healthy dose of Fiber The Google IO conference may fulfill our daily Fiber requirements when the company updates us on its rollout of Gigabit internet throughout the US. Google's broadband network is touted as being 100 times faster than what most Americans currently experience, but so far it's limited to three cities: Kansas, Austin, and Provo, Utah. Google is in early discussions with 34 cities in 9 metro areas that want a piece of its fiber-optic network. Atlanta, Portland, Nashville and San Jose in Google's own backyard may be next. Implementing Google Fiber in America's largest cities may require cable-laying alternatives like city-wide WiFi. It's an idea other companies and governments have tried and failed to deliver. Google has the pipes to make it happen. Its investment in drones and Project Loon could bring Gigabit internet to your town or at least pressure cable providers into offering something similar. Motorola looks poised to +1 the next Moto X's specs Apr 25th 2014, 21:43, by Michael Rougeau It's been just a few weeks since the Moto X+1 branding first showed up, and already we're seeing what could be a benchmark of the unannounced phone. The Moto X+1 could come with a 5.2-inch 1080p HD screen, a Snapdragon 800 processor, 1.7GB of memory (likely actually 2GB), 24GB of internal storage, and Android 4.4.3 KitKat, according to stats that appeared on GFXBench. That's not to mention a 12-megapixel back camera with auto-focus, HDR, touch focus, and face detection, as well as a 2-megapixel front camera with HD video capabilities. These specs are for something called the Moto X XT912A, a model number that points in two possible directions. Model confusion The most obvious is for the new Moto X, since the original Moto X actually had the exact same model number. On the other hand, Motorola's Droid Razr used XT912, an almost identical model number to this device. But it's been a while since we heard any murmurs on the Razr front as Moto X+1 rumors are just now heating up. If this is the new Moto X we're looking at here, it's a step up from the original, which had a 4.7-inch display, a 10-megapixel camera, and other slightly lesser specs. It's unclear what the next Motorola phone will ultimately be called or when it might arrive, but given the evidence that's piling up it's probably safe to say it's coming soon. And now that Lenovo's in charge, it will be interesting to see where the brand heads. Here's what TechRadar thinks of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Designer responsible for the HTC One departs, leaves questions in his wake Apr 25th 2014, 20:30, by klee Scott Croyle, the head of design at HTC and the person who you can thank for the HTC One and HTC One (M8)'s stunning design, is leaving his post. HTC confirmed Croyle's plans to leave the smartphone firm. Having led HTC's industrial design and user experience teams since 2008, Croyle says he's exiting to work on his own projects. However, the former HTC head of design won't sever ties with the company immediately. HTC described the move as a "long-term transition," and Croyle will stick around to help consult on product development for a few more months. Projects we imagine him assisting with include the rumored Nexus 8 tablet and HTC smartwatch, as well as the future HTC One (M9). Passing the baton With Croyle moving on, Jonah Becker will likely assume responsibility of the studio after standing in as the head of design's right-hand man. Over the past year many members of HTC's executive team have jumped ship, but Croyle's departure could represent a tonal shift for the company's products. Croyle was responsible for not only the machined industrial design of the HTC One line but the continued use of the Ultra Pixel camera. Both the HTC One and HTC One M8 have earned rave reviews for their look and feel, and while we're likely in for more Croyle-inspired products for the next few launches, where HTC is headed design-wise is a mystery. Will the company stick to its now-signature handset aesthetic, or take a radical new direction in 2-3 years? In another design team shuffle, Drew Bamford is now in charge of all of HTC's software and services, a jump from his work simply overseeing the Sense user experience. Will this corporate shake up be a boon for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and future devices? iOS 7.1 reveals evidence future iPads will have Touch ID Apr 25th 2014, 17:44, by JR Bookwalter Fingerprint recognition is fast becoming ubiquitous on smartphones, but there are indications that Apple might be planning to introduce the same technology into its line of tablet products as well. GforGames.com turned up clues today that look promising for iPad owners hoping to see Apple's Touch ID fingerprint recognition sensor make the leap from iPhone 5S to their favorite tablets. According to the Twitter account of iOS developer @bp_unicorn, fragments of code from the Biometric Kit included with iOS 7.1 appear to reveal several references to the iPad. "I've just found a reference to the iPad family in Touch ID's resources... #TouchID on the new #iPad?" the Thursday tweet reads. Nothing new? Rumors have circulated about the addition of Touch ID to the iPad lineup, with many expecting Cupertino to offer just such a feature with the latest iPad Air and iPad mini 2 with Retina Display models introduced late last year. That speculation didn't quite pan out, but the UIDeviceFamily references in iOS 7.1 clearly define two families: The first covers iPhone and iPod touch devices, while the second, which is clearly noted in the screenshot above, covers the iPad family. But not so fast: 9to5Mac scribe Benjamin Mayo tweeted earlier today that iPad-related biometric code has "been around for several iOS updates," potentially throwing cold water on the idea of Touch ID's imminent arrival on an iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3. Be that as it may, if Apple history tells us anything, it's that features new to one device more often that not do eventually make their way to others - so it may just be a matter of waiting until Cupertino is good and ready. TechRadar digs deep to discover the best tablet for your money! Mythical Amazon Phone may come with its very own data plan Apr 25th 2014, 15:44, by Kate Solomon We're still not sure if an Amazon Phone actually exists but there's word that if and when it launches, the device will come with a special data deal called Amazon Prime Data. In a similar way to the 3G Kindle giving you free 3G to download books and browse the web, sources kind of familiar with Amazon's plans told BGR that the data bundle could see users able to use certain Amazon apps for free. Prime rib That could potentially include Kindle downloads, Prime Instant Video streaming and access to your music and films in Amazon's Cloud Locker, although we wouldn't be surprised to see a cap on some of these. Either that, or Amazon may have negotiated a subsidised contract rate with networks which gets you a lower monthly fee along with the handset. All that BGR's sources know for sure is that something called Amazon Prime Data exists: at this point, it could be anything. Except, perhaps, something that's likely to be available outside the US at launch. Check out everything we know about the Amazon Phone so far Fighting Talk: How I learned to stop worrying and love my smartwatch Apr 25th 2014, 15:28, by Phil Lavelle Just last summer, I was pleading with Samsung's Mr Shin and Co not to screw up the first edition Galaxy Gear. It hadn't even been announced at that point, but we knew it was coming, and I was scared that Samsung would ruin it. So what did they do? They screwed it up. Good one, Samsung. You brought out a smartwatch that tells you to look at your phone when anything happens. Ridiculous. There was no way on God's green earth I was going to get one. But that's changed now – Samsung has headed to Tails R Us, bought the most expensive model there, and placed it squarely between its legs, coming back with a good, re-booted model. No, not even a model: a really great range of devices. For the first time, we have a smartwatch that isn't pants. I've tried a load of them over the years, with the best being the Pebble (nice, niche but a bit boring) and they've always left me a bit flat. Changing times Just six months after urging us to spend hundreds on a turkey of a smartwatch, the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo were announced along with the Gear Fit. And you know what – something changed. I tried them both out and I'm sold. The first Gear, for all its many, many flaws, looked decent, and I'm so glad Samsung has kept that design ethos. Wearing the Gear Fit for a few days, I got so many admiring looks. I kid you not - even a woman on security at Heathrow saw it, asked about it and then asked me on a date. She might have been 40 years my senior, but at least the Fit was living up to its name in a slightly different way. I will say the Gear 2 is a misstep. I had to move onto the Gear 2 Neo. The 'big brother' is too expensive for what it is as Gareth pointed out a few weeks back, but the Neo really hits the sweet spot. It's more affordable, just as functional and I CAN MAKE CALLS ON IT! Seriously, don't underestimate that. Do you realise how many cool points that earns? You'll never need a chat up line ever again. I know I don't need it Yes, the whole smartwatch concept seems a bit gimmicky, but I've found myself using it when my phone's on charge in another room or when I'm just too lazy to reach all the way into my pocket. It's become second nature to change the tune using my watch instead of the headset remote. I've turned to it several times this last week to locate my phone which has been hiding like a rascal under cushions and in bags. Sure, it's not 100% there. The Gear line is a bit of a niche one when you consider it will only work with Samsung devices. And it's hardly cheap. Plus, while it's great being able to reply to texts and emails via the wrist, not being able to do so with things like WhatsApp messages is a bit of a ballache. This isn't the first smartwatch we've seen. But it's the first good one. Hopefully Apple will join the party this year - we've been waiting long enough - and the crop of Google Gear watches on their way is enough to make me beam from ear to ear. Wrist action has never been this much fun.

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