| Analysis: The most unfounded Apple rumour is the most sensible yet May 2nd 2014, 15:45, by Hugh Langley 
Secret is becoming an interesting new home for tech leaks. It's just damn annoying that there's no way of validating any of them. But the latest one to get the internet buzzing might be the most sensible we've heard in a long time. We're 99.99999% sure that Apple is getting into health tech, and this sounds like a pretty plausible strategy. "Apple's new EarPods will have sensors in them, for heart rate and blood pressure. Also iBeacons so they don't get lost. They will require the lightning port, it's why the audio jack was moved to the bottom." EarputersSo let's break this down. First, earphones having sensors in them isn't a crazy idea at all. In fact, The latest claim might be totally unfounded but we already know that Apple's has had an idea along these lines – just look at this patent. In fact, it goes back even further than that. This patent from all the way back in 2008, as pointed out by MacRumours, also describes a way of monitoring physiological data via headphones. LG's even put the idea into action already with its own heart rate monitor earphones, which relay data to its wrist-based Lifeband Touch. The heart rate monitors built into current wearables, such as the Samsung Gear Fit and TomTom Runner Cardio, use a green light Mio optical sensor to track changes in blood flow. That's all well and good but the flaw is that they sit on one of the busiest parts of your body. It's no surprise that we've had some pretty crazy readings in the middle of a jog – it's just a lot more difficult to be accurate when reading from a wrist. Taking a reading from inside the ear makes a lot of more sense, especially when you take into account the fact that most of us already listen to music when running. Plus it's one less thing to strap one when heading out the door. Sound ideaThere was another interesting comment made by our Secret.ly tipster a little later on: "It's meant to be a gateway product to the other one." One commenter asked if this "other one" was the iWatch. The response: "Name isn't final yet. But yes. That one." However great the iWatch (or iBand, whatever takes your fancy right now) is, it's going to be a tough sell in this currently-awkward wearable market. But fitness will be the key to unlocking the door. Google has Google Now. Apple has health. Perhaps the iWatch will have a heart rate monitor in it too, although if these EarPods do actually exist, it probably doesn't need one. The watch/band will probably be better placed for general day-to-day movement tracking, perhaps employing a variant of Nike's FuelPoint system. But the iWatch will also be a companion device to the iPhone. So the idea could be to bundle in Apple's new EarPods with the iPhone 6 and wean people onto the idea that they also need Apple's wearable. After all, nothing gets people opening their wallets as quickly as thier own health. As our anonymous tipster put it in a comment, "Home medical devices are… a poor market today. But everybody has a body they would like to look after." So how will these mythical earbuds speak to our phones? "They will require the lightning port, it's why the audio jack was moved to the bottom." This makes sense too. LG's earphones require a "medallion" to process data but Apple should be able to send everything through its proprietary connector without the need for an added accessory. And what's that? I can only use approved Apple earphones on my iPhone 6? Wow, it's almost like someone planned for this very thing to happen.        |  | Industry voice: Are businesses ready for the next generation of creative collaboration technologies? May 2nd 2014, 15:00, by Martin Large 
Creativity, and its corporate twin, innovation, are increasingly seen as indicators of business success. By 2020, the UK is expected to have an innovation and ideas economy rather than a purely knowledge economy. As that takes shape, collaboration will be the means to improve problem solving, increase creativity, and deliver that all-important innovation. Extensive research - formal and informal - has been conducted into how collaboration can best harness the creativity within organisations. Neurological studies have shown that laughter helps people be more nimble and creative. Office planners have attempted to boost collaboration by attaching desks to treadmills, building centre-piece staircases, and adding musical instruments to break-out areas. CollaborationEssentially, the mainstream view is that only truly collaborative enterprises that can tap into everyone's ideas in an organised way will compete imaginatively enough in the 21st century. Indeed, much research backs up this view; for example, IDC recently predicted that by 2016, over 70% of CIOs will change their primary role from directly managing IT to becoming an 'innovation partner'. Also, according to a study of 3,500 employees across the UK, France, Germany, the US and Japan conducted by the Future Foundation on behalf of Google, when given the opportunity to collaborate at work, UK employees are nearly twice as likely to have contributed new ideas. However, face-to-face brainstorming can be badly timed for participants or even have a negative effect on overall creativity. In "The Brainstorming Myth", Adrian Furnham says that: "Talented and motivated people should be encouraged to work alone when creativity or efficiency is the highest priority." Clearly, collaborative processes need to be carefully managed if they are to deliver. Collaboration technology can facilitate interactions between staff located in separate sites, but the risk is that it replaces rigid, hierarchical silos with more horizontal – but equally rigid – structures. The Fourth DimensionA far more flexible, hybrid approach is necessary. A more responsive technological infrastructure that enables collaboration is critical, and evidence suggests that businesses are embracing this idea. For instance, investment in video conferencing and unified communications is on the rise, with 87% of enterprises planning to add video conferencing to their Unified Communications architecture by summer this year, largely because of new abilities to interact with content. Whilst this is fantastic, investing in teleconferencing screens and smart phones misses some of the most crucial parts of a true collaborative system, which should cover note taking, minute sharing, idea capture and brainstorming. This 'fourth dimension' of collaboration, where team members can come together from any location and any device, and are able to interact with data and colleagues in real time, is yet to be reached. When true collaborative technology is used to facilitate the user experience and channel the outcomes of creative thought, it can transform a business. Companies that maximise the potential of their employees and foster creativity effectively will be those that adapt most quickly by adopting state of the art technology to enable a variety of working styles, allowing individuals to contribute and flourish. - Martin Large – CEO of leading SMART Board distributor Steljes – is an entrepreneurial businessman with over 10 years' experience running his company.
       | | US Cellular profits increase despite losing 93,000 customers May 2nd 2014, 14:38, by Juan Martinez 
United States Cellular Corporation reported a net income increase of 297% to $19.5 million (about £11.5m, or AU$21m), compared to Q1 of last year, the company said in an earnings statement. Service revenue for the mobile technology company decreased 14% to $853.6 million (about £505m, or AU$921m) for the first quarter of 2014. Total operating revenues for the quarter decreased 8% to $925.81 million (about £548m, or AU$999m). However, during the quarter, US Cellular's operating expenses decreased 15% to $917,986 (about £543,860m, or AU$990,390). Despite the increase in net income, US Cellular lost roughly 93,000 customers in 2013. The company now has 4.68 million customers, down from 4.77 million in Q1 of 2013. Recent changesLast month, US Cellular said it would add more than 1,200 4G LTE cell sites in 2014 and expand existing 4G LTE service in 13 states. By the end of the year, the company plans to offer more than 93% of US Cellular customers 4G LTE. In January, US Cellular began selling the Moto G handset for only $99.99 (about £59, or AU$106). Prior to the announcement, the phone's lowest available price-point was $179 (about £106, or AU$193) from Motorola. The same month, US Cellular added an unlimited talk, text and data plan for $50 (about £30, or AU$54) per month. In November, Amazon began offering US Cellular smartphones that can be purchased online and activated over the phone. US Cellular offers wireless plans starting at $10 (about £6, or AU$10.80) per month on a month-to-month basis. The next least expensive option is 400 minutes, 400 texts, and 400 photos for $35 (about £20, or AU$37.80) per month.        | | In depth: Android Silver: everything you need to know May 2nd 2014, 11:58, by Gary Marshall 
Rumours of a new Android programme, Android Silver, have been swirling for some time - but it seems that Google's latest big idea is much more than the support service we'd initially heard about. Multiple sources say that Silver is going to be a very big deal indeed - and that could be good news for phone fans and a big blow to Samsung. What is Android Silver?Silver is a bit like a more advanced Nexus programme, but instead of working with one manufacturer on one device, Google will work with multiple firms on multiple devices. Google supposedly wants to help manufacturers to deliver a premium Android experience, so participating firms will get help from Google with their development and marketing costs, and their devices will get preferential treatment when it comes to software updates. There will be Android Silver kiosks in shops and an Amazon-style video support service for Silver users, but the existing Nexus programme will be stopped. Why is that good for me?It should mean a wider choice of high-end Android devices at reasonable prices, and those devices will be free from the bloatware, unwanted apps and over-the-top customisation that plagues some firms' handsets. That's because participating firms will have to agree not to mess around with stock Android in much the same way Microsoft's Signature programme banished bloatware from participating PCs. The devices must "closely adhere to Google specifications" and will "sharply limit the number of non-Google apps that can be pre-installed on devices" or ensure that phone owners will be able to uninstall them. It also means that you'll be able to buy handsets without wondering if you're getting the most up to date version of Android or whether the firm will bother supplying Android updates after a few months. What's in it for the manufacturers?Money - as much as $1 billion of it. Silver should help the smaller players compete with the 500lb gorilla of Android: Samsung. Companies that don't have Samsung's massive R&D and marketing budgets will be able to benefit from Google's deep pockets. The downside, however, is that by becoming part of the Silver programme the manufacturers may find it harder to differentiate their products from one another: if the rumours are correct and Google is specifying the hardware as well as the software (as it does with its own Nexus devices) there won't be much the manufacturers can do to make their devices different from their rivals'. Who is taking part?LG and Motorola have been named as the most likely candidates for initial devices. Others are expected to follow. When is it going to happen?We don't know. The leaks are based around documents from the tail end of last year and the rumours of a new Nexus 10 tablet at this summer's Google I/O suggest that if the Nexus programme is being replaced, it isn't happening imminently. Google is already cracking down on the way Android is presented, though: both the HTC One (M8) and Samsung Galaxy S5 boot screens feature the words "powered by Android". Why is Google doing this?Control. By limiting what manufacturers do with Android, Google can ensure consistency and quality across devices - something that isn't always the case at the moment. By working more closely with manufacturers, Google can ensure that SIlver customers get the best possible Android experience. That sounds sensible enough, but there's another theory doing the rounds: Silver is anti-Samsung insurance. Google gives away Android because it wants users' data and Samsung's dominance is a threat to that: Samsung's plans to eventually drop Android are well documented, and if it forks or drops Android that will leave an enormous hole in Google's data gathering. By putting the Android brand at the centre of multiple firms' marketing and helping those firms better compete with Samsung, Silver could be an attempt to minimise the damage Samsung could do. If Silver is successful, it might just persuade Samsung to stick with Android for longer.        | | Week in Tech: Week in Tech: Siri-ous problems with CarPlay and Android flagships at war May 2nd 2014, 10:00, by TechRadar 
Another week, another avalanche of tech news you may have missed. We've taken Apple's CarPlay for a test drive, followed Facebook's F8 conference, and discovered a worrying trend among UK ISPs. Not only that, but we're celebrating the birthday of one of tech's major milestones. CarPlay's Siri-ous flawsIs Apple's CarPlay, its system for iOS for in-car, any good? Not right now it isn't, says Michelle Fitzsimmons. While the interface is nice enough Siri is largely useless, there aren't enough apps and the functionality is extremely basic. Acer dumps 'the unprofitable stuff'Acer is moving upmarket, changing its focus from commodity PCs to more interesting products such as the Liquid Leap. The big challenge isn't the tech, though: it's the brand image. According to product marketing director John Miedema, "you'll still see a lot of people not considering Acer or still buying the Apple product because it's Apple." Androids battleGiven the choice between Google's Nexus 5 and the CyanogenMod-powered and terribly named OnePlus One, which should you go for? John McCann puts them head to head in OnePlus One vs Google Nexus 5 to discover just how much Android bang you can get for your smartphone buck. Facebook's tempting F8F8, Facebook's annual developer conference, was held this week. We didn't see any Facebook phones or other goodies this year, but we did see a revamped privacy system for apps including anonymous logins, a new mobile ad network and new ways to interact with apps. Bits and PCsGoogle's Project Ara promises truly modular smartphones, but what other tech would benefit from the transformer treatment? We reckon smart TVs, in-car entertainment, smart watches, games consoles and human beings would all benefit from modular upgrades - and we discover the fake nails you can use to DJ in the bath. Where are the indie ISPs?A handful of ISPs have a chokehold on our internet access, says Jay McGregor. "Between 1990 and 1998 there were 19 independent ISPs operating in the UK. In 2014, those very same ISPs have either been absorbed by the big six (BT, EE, Sky, Virgin, TalkTalk and Plusnet), or are now completely defunct." That number could fall to just three, with serious implications for innovation and competition - meaning internet access could end up costing more and being worse. Smart sensors"Your mobile phone already knows where it is, how you're holding it, what you're saying to it and how fast you're moving," says David Nield - but that's just the beginning. Future phones could monitor everything from your blood sugar levels to the likelihood of an imminent avalanche. BASIC InstinctIt's 50 years since the creation of BASIC, the programming language that taught the world to code. All together now: 10 PRINT "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BASIC!" 20 GOTO 10 - Read our CarPlay review to find out what Apple's got right and wrong in the car
       | | Latest LG G3 leak gives us a clearer look at the glossy handset May 2nd 2014, 08:50, by Hugh Langley 
The LG G3 is next up on our list of big phones of 2014, but if you can't hold out until May 27 then cast your peepers over these new pictures. The phone we're seeing here looks pretty similar to what's already been leaked, but new images leaked on Korean site Seeko show the phone in its entirety. If this is the real deal, it looks like we're set for a glossy plastic build. Meanwhile it appears that the power button, camera and speaker sit on the back of the phone. The LG logo on the bottom of the phone also adds a tad more credibility to this leak, but we'd advise remaining cautious. We know all too well just how far some people will go to fool the internet. 
Life's plastickyBased on everything we've heard on the wires, we're expecting the LG G3 to arrive with a QHD display, a Snapdragon 801 processor and 2GB of RAM. Then there's the LG G3 mini, also expected, which is rumoured to pack a 720p display and an 8MP rear camera. May 27 is the date that LG is expected to announce the G3, while rumours are swirling that it could be on shelves by the end of the month. Watch this space, phone fans. - Everything else you need to know about the LG G3
       | | Android still rules the roost for mobile security threats May 2nd 2014, 08:00, by Dean Wilson 
Android might dominate the smartphone market, but that position comes at the price of being the most targeted platform for mobile security threats. A new report by F-Secure shows that over 99 per cent of new mobile threats detected by the security firm in the first quarter of 2014 were on Android. Of the 277 new threat families and variants discovered in the first three months of this year, 275 of them targeted Android, while one aimed at iPhone and the last went for Symbian. The rate of malware is increasing dramatically. To put this into perspective, the first quarter of 2013 saw just 149 new threat families and variants, and only 91 per cent of them focused on Android. New threatsF-Secure found that hackers have developed increasingly sophisticated and complex attacks and exploits on Android, including the first bootkit, first Tor trojan, and first Windows banking trojan. In March it was discovered that some apps in Google Play were hosting hidden cryptocurrency miners. The Internet of Things is also not immune to this growing threat, which can substantially slow down devices. "These developments give us signs to the direction of malware authors," said Mikko Hyppönen, Chief Research Officer at F-Secure. "We'll very likely see more of these in the coming months. For example, mobile phones are getting more powerful, making it possible for cybercriminals to profit by using them to mine for cryptocurrencies." F-Secure found that the UK had the highest level of mobile malware in the first quarter.        | | Updated: Best Android phone - which should you buy? May 2nd 2014, 05:30, by Gareth Beavis 
Best Android phone: 10 - 6Our verdict on the best Android phones - constantly updatedThere's one key way in which Android is massively different from its Apple-branded smartphone competition - the number of phones out there running Google's hot mobile OS. The latest wave of phones rocking up are running Android 4.4 KitKat, the latest version of the mobile OS from Google, and they are all pretty fantastic. There are also a few Android 4.3 Jelly Bean handsets on the market too. Samsung makes loads of these Android devices. Sony's cut the Ericsson ties but still is cranking out the Google-branded handsets. Then you've got Android-powered phones from Acer, LG, Huawei, Motorola, ZTE and many others, and while HTC has ceased the practice of releasing more phones than centipedes have shoes (they do wear them, you know) it's still one of the more prominent Android manufacturers. FutTv : X07b7PVMTE6VWThe many variations in screen size, processor power, software features and design makes finding the best Android phone for you extremely tough. Do you physically and emotionally need a QWERTY keyboard? Are you the sort of oddball who prefers the rough pressing needed to make resistive touchscreens work? If so, you won't find much luck here, as those technologies are sadly phased out of the Android world as buyers get enamoured by fancy, glossy capacitive touchscreens. Are you struggling to work out which are the best Android Widgets? Or even stuck wondering: "Actually,what IS Android?" To help find the best Android phone for you, we've rounded up the best Android handsets out there today, rating the phones on hardware performance, OS upgrade potential and, of course, how shiny and nice they are to have and boast about to work colleagues. So here they are - the best Android phones money can buy today. For many, many different reasons. 10. Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is alive and kicking and breathes yet more life into a mobile form factor many thought would be dead on arrival, ramping up the specs and the size to give us a new monolith of mobile. It may be big, but the 5.7-inch display is fantastic and the Full HD Super AMOLED technology makes everything pop from websites to movies. What really impressed us with the Galaxy Note 3 though was its battery life and sheer speed under the finger. We're used to a day at best when hardcore using the device, but we got far past that without breaking a sweat throughout our tests. Quick verdictThis is the best Galaxy Note smartphone to date, so if you're looking for a supersized handset with impressive power and a wide range of features the Galaxy Note 3 has got you covered. 9. Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung may have been top dog in 2012, but since those glory days the sultry stylings of the HTC One and craziness of the LG G2 have proven too strong against a phone that's a slightly-better-version of its predecessor. There's a lot to love with the Samsung Galaxy S4 with its super sharp screen, powerful camera, long-lasting battery and fluid user interface - it's got everything you could ever want in a smartphone. It may be a little more costly than some of its direct rivals, but thankfully it's still cheaper than the iPhone. If only it was made out of something a little more premium. Quick verdictThere's no doubt that this was one of the best smartphone ever made when it launched last year. But now that it's a year older, it isn't able to keep up with some of the newer handsets. It's still worth a second glance though, especially if you can get it nice and cheap. 8. Moto G
The Moto G rocks up with a 4.5-inch 720p display, punchy 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM and pure Android 4.4 KitKat on board. Add to that a 5MP camera, the choice of 8GB or 16GB of internal storage and connections such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, and you've got a pretty decent mid-range handset. But take a look at the price tag and you'll be astounded by how little the Motorola Moto G will set you back compared to similarly specced phones. Quick verdictIf you're looking for the best budget smartphone on the market then look no further, for the Android 4.4 toting Moto G gives you more than enough bang for your buck. 7. HTC One
Sure, it may have been replaced by the even more impressive HTC One M8 in the top spot, but last year's HTC One was so good, it still manages to hold a spot in our top 10. Remember, this was only the third phone to ever get a 5-star TechRadar review, thanks to its stunning body, powerful processor and impressive array of features like Boomsound. What's more, the fact it's been replaced by the One M8 means you can now grab this excellent handset at a drastically reduced price. Quick verdictIt may not have the same staying power as the phones ahead of it now that it's a year old, but the HTC One is a powerful handset that's gorgeous to look at and a pleasure to use. 6. Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
The problem with all these flagship Android phones these days is that people with smaller hands have to struggle to use them. Fortunately, that has inspired a new range of 'mini' devices, which take elements of the flagship and shrink them down in both size and price. The Xperia Z1 Compact is the best of the bunch. Not only does it combine the Xperia Z1's waterproof body with a range of colours, it brings great battery life and affordable price to the handset as well. Sure, a screen that's less than 1080p may not impress everyone, but Sony's great UI and camera should keep the masses satisfied. Quick verdictIf 5-inches is an inch too far for you, this is the pick of the smaller Android devices. Plus, it comes in a range of colours, and everyone likes colours, right? Best Android phone: 5-15. Google Nexus 5
Some might say that the best thing about Google's Nexus lineup of phones is the amazingly affordable price. Others will argue its the constantly up to date firmware. With Android 4.4 KitKat under the hood, and a great screen, it's a phone worthy of your cash. The LG G2 has a better camera at a similar price though. That said there's something rewarding about using the clean, vanilla Android experience, so this phone is definitely worth your time. Quick verdictCompared to the phones ranked above it, there's nothing overly innovative about the Nexus 5. But it does everything it's asked to do exceptionally well, and that's nothing to sneeze at. 4. LG G2
LG hasn't been a brand you necessarily link to excellence in mobile phones, but the G2 has changed all that in a big way. A fantastic screen, a great camera and great audio all make this handset well worth the price of admission. It's got some quirks - like an overly cluttered UI and volume controls on the back of the phone, but they are easily overcome by the affordable price point. Quick verdictLG was responsible for the past couple of Nexus devices, and it shows that the Korean company has learned a lot from the experience. The G2 is a fantastic device at an even better price. 3. Samsung Galaxy S5
Samsung has long been at the forefront of flagship Android phones, but still manages to find itself only taking the bronze with its latest release. The Galaxy S5 has plenty of innovation, thanks to the integrated fingerprint scanner, the magnificent screen and the replaceable battery, but the plastic (albeit waterproof) body doesn't do it any favours. Its biggest issue - in Australia at least - is that the company has locked the dock so it can't be customised, a feature not found in the UK or US. Given Android's supposedly open nature, this arbitrary restriction seems rediculous. Quick verdictDon't get us wrong, this is a fantastic phone. But TouchWiz lacks the usability of the HTC and Sony user interfaces, and Samsung's design needs a refresh. 2. Sony Xperia Z2
Sony has been working hard to break back into the top echelon of the smartphone market, pumping out new flagship handsets every six months or so to try and climb its way to the top. The strategy has almost worked, with the Z2 being one of the greatest Android handsets on the market. Combining the Xperia Z lineup's waterproof body with a brand new 4K video recording mode and front-facing speakers, Sony's latest phone is the best its ever done, and is a pleasure to use, although it can't quite take the top spot from HTC Quick verdictThe glass and metal body doesn't have the same style as the HTC One M8, but the phone does enough to push Samsung out of the top two. You won't be disappointed by this phone. 1. HTC One M8
HTC has done it again! After last year's breathtaking HTC One, the Taiwanese company has improved its best with the One M8, retaining the best smartphone around title. From its stunning metal chassis to the inclusion of expandable memory, impressive battery life and an effective new duo-camera for after shot refocusing, the phone ticks almost every box. Battery life is impressive, BlinkFeed works well and the Boomsound speakers outperform every other device on the market. Quick VerdictHTC has managed to improve the HTC One, which is no easy feat given how well we liked that phone. The One M8 has set itself up as the smartphone to beat in 2014.        | | Vine's website now lets anyone search for six-second vids May 2nd 2014, 00:18, by Nick Pino 
Remember when you could only browse YouTube after you made an account? Or how about that time you could only see a friend's picture on Facebook because you got a direct URL instead of simply browsing your feed? Of course you don't. That never happened. In a blog post today, Vine announced that the web version of the popular mobile app is finally getting a major usability upgrade that will allow visitors to peruse the site's six-second videos without being a registered member. Concerned about your videos appearing on the home page? Don't be. Private vines will still stay private, and Vine won't allow unregistered users to re-vine - essentially retweet - a registered user's vine. Also announced was the addition of featured content that will highlight specific users, channels and best-of videos curated by a team at Vine. The king of swingThese sound like simple things really, but then again, this is coming from the company that just implemented profiles in January. It's been a big year for the Twitter-owned content-sharing site. It added direct messages earlier this month, and even took a hardline stance against porn to avoid getting chopped by Apple's App Store. Figuring out what the public wants, especially in cases where they didn't even know they wanted it, is a crucial part of growing the business, and Vine's latest update makes it seem like they really have a handle on it. The mobile version of Vine is now available in the latest version of the Vine app on iOS and Android.        | | Apple rumored to delay some iOS 8 features until 8.1 update May 1st 2014, 19:45, by JR Bookwalter 
Can something be delayed when it hasn't even been released, yet alone announced? Apparently anything is possible for Apple's upcoming mobile operating system, which may now launch without one or more rumored new features. 9to5Mac has been aggressively leaking what Apple might be cooking up for this year's iOS 8 software, but Thursday found the website backpedaling just a bit on what might be included with the initial release. Apple is expected to introduce iOS 8 at its Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco next month, with a release to the public likely arriving later in the year alongside new hardware. The latest scuttlebutt from inside Apple HQ, however, is that some of the recently rumored new features might actually be delayed until the first major update, which will presumably be iOS 8.1. Moving targetThe report claims that Apple may be allocating additional resources from its iOS engineering team to the next big OS X release, which is expected to be a complete visual overhaul of the venerable Mac operating system. Among the potential new additions to iOS 8 are Healthbook, TextEdit and Preview apps as well as a dedicated iTunes Radio app, the reintroduction of public transit directions to the built-in Maps app and Voice over LTE support. Transit routing is cited as one potential feature that could be pushed back to iOS 8.1, instead paving the way for backend enhancements to iCloud and a rumored Shazam partnership, which would allow device owners to identify songs via Apple's Siri voice assistant. Also said to be complicated matters is rumored new "multi-resolution support," which could pave the way for App Store titles to work across a variety of different screen sizes, including a larger iPhone 6 and a rumored Apple TV refresh with Siri voice control. - Don't forget about our exhaustive review of Apple's iPad Air!
       | | Dude, where's my car? Google Now will remember where you parked May 1st 2014, 18:38, by klee 
Lost your car and can't remember where you parked? Google has rolled out a fresh Google Now for Android update that adds parking reminders so users will never forget where they left their ride. In a blog post, the search company detailed how automatic parking reminder cards will start appearing for users who assign driving as their main form of transportation in Google Now. The automatic parking detection marks a location as soon as users leave a vehicle. Additionally, Google Now will plant a marker after leaving a friend's car and whenever users step off a bus. Previously, the Google-owned Waze has allowed users to mark their parking spaces manually, but this new update adds some automatic integration. This isn't the first time Google has integrated Waze features into Google Now; in March the Mountain View company also added traffic updates from the firm. A bevy of improvementsAlong with automatic parking reminders, the search company has tweaked Google Now to let users access phone settings using their voice. Users can simply command the phone to turn on Wi-Fi or change the volume settings. Users will still have to touch their screens to switch on Airplane mode, but the addition of voice control lets users jump directly into the settings without the extra steps of draging down the notifications page and selecting the option. Also with Airplane mode, the new update makes it so all your Google Now cards get wiped on the tarmac. Instead, users will get a notification informing them of the last time their Google Now cards were updated. In a few smaller tweaks, Google Now's reminder list has been separated into more distinguishable upcoming and past blocks. Google has also made it easier to access your Nicknames by digging into your "Account & Privacy" settings.        | | Amazon phone takes cues from competitors in leaked render May 1st 2014, 17:41, by Michael Rougeau 
Unlike the Amazon phone's first alleged public appearance, this time it looks like the handset isn't wearing any armor. True, it's just a computer-generated render, and not an actual photo, but BGR's sources maintain it's real. It does match up nicely with what we've seen and heard previously, though it should be noted much of that info as of late has been coming from the Boy Genius' sources. The rumors are coming together to form a picture of a phone that makes up for what it lacks in hardware innovation with a strange new interface and software features. That wheel needs replacingAs for the phone we see in the render, it basically looks like an iPhone with the Galaxy S5's home button. In fact it seems to more closely resemble an older iPhone, like the iPhone 3G, than anything more contemporary. Granted, the Amazon phone reportedly sports some unique tilting, gesture and head-tracking controls, and Amazon will be able to differentiate it with software sold through its own Amazon app store. A previous report said Amazon phone owners will be able to subscribe to a special data plan called Amazon Prime Data, though the details are far from clear at this point. So what if it looks like a Frankenstein monster made of parts from more popular phones that have been out for years? As has been said many times before, no point in reinventing the wheel. Of course, one has to wonder whether Apple and Samsung, two amply litigious companies who are more than happy to roll around in court battles like pigs in (you know), will feel the same way. - Here's everything TechRadar knows about the iPhone 6
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