Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 05-22-2014

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Good news for iOS defectors: Apple's fixing the iMessage bug May 22nd 2014, 15:23, by Hugh Langley Apple is working on a fix for the iMessage bug that causes iPhone users to lose messages when jumping ship from iOS to other devices. The glitch prevents users from disconnecting their phone number from iMessage, so messages sent from iOS users disappear into the ether. Apple promised a fix earlier this month, and it says that's now underway. "We recently fixed a server-side iMessage bug which was causing an issue for some users, and we have an additional bug fix in a future software update," an Apple spokesperson told Re/code. It's unclear how long it will take for Apple to completely fix the issue but we're glad to hear that the wheels are in motion. In the meantime, here are some fixes we recommend. Analysis: Apple's iMessage bug: what it is and how to fix it May 22nd 2014, 14:45, by Gary Marshall Former iPhone users who've embraced Android, Windows Phone or BlackBerry have encountered a really annoying problem: they're not receiving messages sent from others' iPhones. As far as the sender is concerned the message has been delivered, but the recipient never gets it or has any idea that a message was sent at all. The problem has been known about for a while - it was first reported in 2011 - and some people are so angry about the lack of a fix that they're suing Apple. But before you call your lawyer, it might be better to try solving the problem yourself. Here's how to do it. What causes the iMessage bug? When you send text or picture messages on iOS with iMessage enabled, your device checks with Apple to see if the recipient is an iMessage user. If they are then Apple intercepts the message and sends it via iMessage; if they aren't then it sends the message as an SMS or MMS. It doesn't matter whether your phone company charges: if you're messaging another iOS user, your iMessages are free. That's great unless you dump iOS but keep the same phone number. In some cases it seems that Apple continues to think that you're an iMessage user, so it sends you iMessages - even though you can't receive them. There are two ways to solve the problem. The first is to turn off iMessage before you change your device, and the second is to alert Apple after you've changed your device. How to fix the iMessage bug before you change phones If you still have your iPhone, you can solve the problem by turning off iMessage before you change phones. Go into Settings > Messages and turn iMessage off, and then go into Settings > FaceTime and sign out. If you have more than one iOS device, do it on all of them. Once you've done this, any messages you send to other iPhone users should be in green rather than the blue of iMessage. It's a good idea to get a friend to text you to check that the change has been processed by Apple before you dump your phone completely. How to fix the iMessage bug when you don't have the phone any more If you don't have your iPhone any more - or if you do and turning off iMessage didn't do the trick - you'll need to get Apple to remove your phone number from iCloud. That means calling Apple Support with your iCloud ID and phone number and asking them to manually remove your details, or using My Support Profile to unregister the device. Is it time we said goodbye to the text message altogether? Plastic HTC One M8 Ace may land in early June May 22nd 2014, 13:36, by James Rogerson The HTC One M8 Ace is one of the more intriguing handsets that HTC is thought to be working on. Essentially the idea seems to be to deliver HTC One M8 level specs at a much lower price tag and it could be here as soon as the June 3. That date comes from sources for Taiwanese site ePrice and given that HTC has recently started teasing the handset it could be accurate, as it seems likely that the phone would launch soon. Elsewhere we've also caught a glimpse of the device, alongside some rumoured specs. Both come from Chinese site ifanr.com, which claims it will have a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor and a 5-inch 1080p screen, which would put it roughly in line with the HTC One M8. Although we'd anticipate that the if the Ace makes it to the UK, US or Australia then that 2.5GHz processor might be swapped out for a 2.3GHz one, to match the version of the One M8 that made it to those territories. One part M8, one part Mini 2 The camera could be in for a change though, as ePrice reckons the One M8 Ace will get a 13 megapixel camera, just like the HTC One Mini 2, rather than the 4 Ultrapixel camera of the M8. It will apparently be available in a range of colours and be substantially cheaper than the One M8. That's been achieved by swapping out the aluminium shell for a plastic one, as you can see in the picture. HTC Might be working on a One M8 Prime too. In Depth: Wristy business: why Microsoft could win at wearables May 22nd 2014, 13:02, by Max Slater-Robins Microsoft has essentially lost the smartphone race, with Windows Phone capturing under 5% market share in the US and Western Europe. In emerging markets it is doing a little better, but the profits that can be made are far less and will not sustain Microsoft as the world moves away from desktop PCs to smartphones and tablets. Right now, Microsoft is one of the most relevant companies in the world when it comes to enterprise but when consumers leave the office they leave behind the world of MS and switch instead to devices with Apple and Samsung logos on them, powered by iOS or Android. This is a massive problem for Microsoft and one that it is undoubtedly trying to address. Windows Phone is making progress in emerging markets, such as South America and India, but in Western Europe and the US the battle is lost, with Samsung (running Android) and Apple capturing over 99% percent of the profits coming from mobile. While Microsoft may be happy with third place, it is not enough for it to retain consumer interest as BlackBerry, HTC, Sony and LG have found. An argument could be made for Xbox being Microsoft's saving grace when it comes to consumer technology, but the Xbox brand has become disassociated with Microsoft. Partly due to the lack of Microsoft branding on the product and partly due the scale of games consoles is far dwarfed by the scale of smartphones, tablets and, indeed, the potential scale of wearables which has been pegged by analysts Canalys as a business that will sell over 45 million units annually by 2017. Sadly for Microsoft, only one of these categories is up for the taking. Microsoft must look to the future if it wishes to regain a foothold in consumer tech and the future, according to many analysts, has "wearables" written in big bold letters across it. Apple, Google, Motorola, Samsung, LG and Sony all have wearable devices - mostly smartwatches - either on the market now or waiting in the wings. Google has unveiled Android Wear, a version of Android specifically designed for wearable devices, teaming up with Motorola and others to create devices like the stunning Moto 360. No clear winner No clear winner has emerged in the smartwatch race, however. The Samsungs Galaxy Gear was met with harsh criticism for its lack of features and clunky design. The Gear Fit, a Nike fuel band-style device, has various software faults at launch and other design foibles. Apple's iWatch is, at the moment at least, just rumours and could be released as late as 2015 according to leaked information. Motorola's effort, the 360, has a beautiful, spherical design but its success is far from a foregone conclusion - a lot more is required in a device than a pretty design, as a multitude of technology failures in the past have proven. There are comparisons to be made between the smartphone market pre-iPhone and the current state of the wearables market. Whats is Android Wear? Apple did not come up with the idea for the smartphone, but its products capitalised on the lacklustre competition with a slick interface and unique design and has gone on to sell millions. Microsoft can potentially pull a similar trick with smartwatches. Microsoft already has stable businesses that generate billions of dollars in revenue that can be pushed into other areas without affecting the bottom line of the company. Essentially, Microsoft can feasibly bet billions on wearables, play the waiting game and then pick up the spoils at the end. And Microsoft is definitely interested in smartwatches, filing a patent recently for a "wearable device which displays information" which can then be taken out of the strap and placed into a dock. While these features may not seem particularly ground breaking, the very fact Microsoft is looking into smartwatches shows its interest in expanding into new markets and, more importantly, Nadella is willing to give the go ahead as we saw with the introduction of the Office suite on iPad. The Windows Phone watch Windows Phone's design lends itself to smaller screens, with the tile interface being a perfect fit for 'at a glance' information on your wrist. The app problem that faces Windows Phone users wouldn't be as pronounced on a watch as the use cases are far more limited. Microsoft could build all of the services required in a watch (a clock app, maps, notification centre, etc.) without too much of a problem, combing the slick design of Windows Phone with their own custom apps. It can also add a smartwatch to its "Universal" apps approach, meaning that apps made for Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 run on a smartwatch too. The $7.2 billion acquisition of Nokia could help Microsoft enormously in wearables. While Nokia has no specific credentials in designing wearable devices, they do have a history of stunning smartphone design, especially in recent years. Nokia has undoubtedly explored the idea of a smartwatch and can combine this knowledge with Microsoft's. A beautifully designed smartwatch, in multiple vibrant colours (as is the Nokia way), could be a best seller by the end of 2015 and could finally guarantee that a device with "Microsoft" written on it was in the hands of the masses. Windows 9 and Windows Phone 9 release date teased as April 2015 May 22nd 2014, 10:00, by James Rogerson Windows Phone 8.1 has only just joined the party, but according to a leaked document Microsoft is already well into development of Windows Phone 9 and Windows 9. The document, which was revealed by Myce.com, mentions dates of between Q2 and Q3 2015 for the release of both preview builds. In other words they could arrive any time between April and September 2015, so that's a big window, but if it hits the earlier end then we could be seeing Windows Phone 9 in less than a year. Change is in the air Despite Windows Phone 8.1 only being a small number bump it included some major new features, so we'd expect the upgrade to Windows Phone 9 to bring some massive changes. We don't know what those will be yet, but earlier rumours suggest that Microsoft may do away with the tile based interface. There's also been talk in the past that Microsoft might ditch Windows RT and use Windows Phone 9 on both phones and tablets. It remains to be seen what the truth will be, but in the meantime at least we have Windows Phone 8.1 to tide us over. A new version of Android is in the works too. LG G3 fitness functions and wireless charging revealed by official case May 22nd 2014, 08:07, by John McCann We all know the LG G3 will be announced on May 27 and, while many specs appear to have already been leaked, LG has offered up yet more info on its upcoming flagship. It has announced the QuickCircle Case for the G3, which is a similar offering to the S View case Samsung offers for its top handsets. You get a window in the cover so you can see a portion of the screen and on the LG G3 this means you'll be able to make and receive calls, send texts, control music playback and even snap a picture without flipping the cover open. Interestingly, LG reveals that you'll also be able to get an update on your health via the window, suggesting the G3 will come with various fitness sensors - although a heart rate monitor is looking unlikely. Look mum, no wires! That's not all though, with LG also confirming the QuickCircle Case will provide the G3 with Qi wireless charging abilities. It's not clear whether wireless charging will be built into the LG G3 itself, or if it will only be possible with the case. For those of you who love to accessorise the QuickCircle Case will be available in five colours; black, white, gold, mint (that's green to you and me) and pink. There's no word on pricing for the LG G3 QuickCircle Case, but you can watch the video below which highlights some of its features. YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVtZAPjOcBI All you need to know on the LG G3 Updated: Best Telstra phone: 5 we recommend May 22nd 2014, 05:00, by TechRadar Telstra is currently dominating the Australian telco space and shoring up future tech, with announcements including LTE-A trials testing speeds of 450Mbps and a national Wi-Fi network. Now with the ability to upgrade your smartphone every 12 months when you're on a 24-month, it's time we took a look at which handset you should choose when you wander into the Telstra shop. Compared with its competitors, Telstra's range is quite small. Traditionally, Telstra has been very selective with which OEM partners it works with and it tends only to take on the big name products. Though in our list, you'll also see an exclusive that you won't find on any other network. Samsung Galaxy S5 The phone that would be king. The Galaxy S5 had big shoes to fill after the success of the Galaxy S4, while still going up against HTC and Sony's newest entries. For a Samsung flagship upgrade, you get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU processor that helps improve battery life and a stunning 5.1 inch display. The newest and greatest feature would of course be it's waterproof and dust proof form, designed to survive being caught out in a winter storm or a trip to the beach. It's also packed to the gills with Samsung's UI, and along with the improved hardware and camera, you get a fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor. These may not be features you'll end up using, but they certainly don't detract from the phone in a major way. Though it feels better in the hand than the S4, it still has a plastic-feeling construction, so if you prefer your phones to feel sturdier, we'd suggest looking at the HTC One M8 or an iPhone 5S. Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Apple iPhone 5S Few "best phone" lists would be complete without the iPhone, and compared with the available offering at Telstra, the iPhone 5S definitely deserves to be here. Last year's hardware refresh gave fans iOS 7, a better processor and camera and the Touch ID fingerprint scanner. If you were a fan of the older iPhone 5, you'll love the 5S, but also remember that an iPhone 6 is due out in a few months. Still, even if you don't wait, the iPhone 5S is still stellar of a device for the expert user and one of the best for smartphone newbies, too. It's simple, clean layout is easy to navigate, and even people who don't feel comfortable using computers tend to take to the iPhone like ducks to water. Then there's also the iPhone 5C to consider, if you're after something cheaper, more colourful, but do keep in mind that it is not as powerful. Read our iPhone 5S review Keep up to date on all iPhone 6 release news and rumours HTC One M8 The HTC One was the big hit of last year, making everyone sit up and take notice of HTC. It also made everyone curious as to whether HTC could follow it up with another winner this year. Well, our fears were laid to rest, with our own Gareth Beavis saying that, with the One M8, "HTC has done it again: created a stunning phone with very few flaws." While the design and the Sense UI is still worth talking about, a new Snapdragon 801 processor helps boosts battery life dramatically, eliminating one of the worries of the old HTC One. The addition of a microSD slot will make many media-happy people jump for joy. If we are to be finicky, the camera does disappoints in that we don't see a major upgrade (be wary of bright light situations), but it's still a snapper that you can rely on day to day for all your Instagram shots. Other than that, we dare you to hold the One M8 and not want to take it home with you. It's just one of those devices. Read our review of the HTC One M8 review Nexus 5 Google's Nexus range isn't perhaps as well known as Apple's iPhone range or Samsung's Galaxy range in Australia, but it's nothing to be sniffed at, especially as the spec list compared against the price tag will impress. Only available through Telstra, the Nexus 5 has improved enough on its predecessors to make it one of the best phones on the market right now. The battery is improved, the camera performs well, and it still has its low-cost price tag. It also touts a high power CPU, a quality display and a solid build. With its pure Android experience, many will love the Google phone, and while it doesn't have any fancy bells or whistles like the iPhone 5S, it is still a powerful phone for the budget user. Read our review of the Nexus 5 Sony Xperia Z2 Now in it's third iteration, the Sony Xperia series is truly hitting its stride with the Xperia Z2. Despite its rather clunky, industrial design is a little chunky but oozes premium quality in a way that Samsung's plastic shell doesn't, and with it's IP58 rating, it's little more robust than the HTC One - or at least would be able to take a dip in the pool without everything just dying. Improvements to the Z1 include front facing speakers, a new screen with better colour reproduction, 4K video recording and inbuilt noise cancellation. Another top range smartphone, you get great battery life, strong power and a wonderful camera. Sony's latest entry is simply a great all-rounder. Read our review of the Sony Xperia Z More LG, Sony devices sinking their teeth into Android 4.4 May 21st 2014, 21:13, by JR Bookwalter The latest version of Android continues a slow but steady wave across smartphones and tablets from nearly every OEM, and today we have a hump day update heading to a handful of devices from Sony and LG. Sony announced the rollout of Android 4.4 KitKat to four devices, namely the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, the waterproof Xperia ZR and Xperia Tablet Z, with another trio already in the update queue for July. The over-the-air KitKat update delivers the usual performance improvements and UI optimizations, but Xperia fans also receive an all-new user interface experience ripped straight from the PlayStation 4, including new launch animation and live wallpaper. With revamped Status Bar and Quick Settings, KitKat on Xperia also delivers tweaks to Sony's built-in apps, such as slicker "send" animation in Messaging, a smarter social Xperia Camera and a more responsive email client. Your mileage may vary Sony isn't the only manufacturer getting into the KitKat game as LG cleared the Optimus G Pro for a similar OTA update for AT&T customers in the US. It is arrives as a free, roughly 800MB download. More specifically, AT&T's update brings the LG Optimus G Pro to Android 4.4.2 and delivers restyled status and navigation bars, a new full-screen mode, battery performance improvements and support for Google Cloud Print. While LG customers on the AT&T network should be on the lookout for KitKat starting today, Sony's updates will be available in select markets, which will arrive in staggered releases at the discretion of carriers around the globe. Next up for Sony is another wave of KitKat updates starting in July. It's promised the Xperia T2 Ultra, Xperia E1 and Xperia M2 (both available variants) will receive 4.4. Find out if the Motorola Moto E is the little smartphone that could in our review! Same but different Galaxy S5 Active stars in benchmark video May 21st 2014, 20:47, by Michael Rougeau Yet another video of the alleged Samsung Galaxy S5 Active has appeared online, this one claiming to benchmark the unannounced Samsung flagship variant. The video, from YouTube channel TK Tech News, goes over the device in detail, though it's unclear how they got their hands on it. The video clocks the S5 Active with a 1920 x 1080 Super AMOLED display, a 16-megapixel camera, a quad-core Snapdragon 801 chip, Android 4.4.2 KiKat, 2GB of memory, and a heart rate monitor and barometer. In other word,s it's a carbon copy of the Samsung Galaxy S5 - at least on the inside. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpQry0Zrm8A#t=18 A book by its cover Outside the Galaxy S5 Active appears to sport some metal and rubber that should help protect it from the elements (and being dropped during your regular mountain climbing and BMX activities). That "Active" in the name isn't just for show, after all. That may be the only difference between the S5 and the S5 Active, and while that may not sound like great news, it sort of is when you consider that the Galaxy S4 Active actually had downgraded specs compared with the proper Galaxy S4. One has to wonder, though, why Samsung needs to bother with two variants of the S5 when they're identical except for one version's improved durability. Shouldn't the S5 have been as durable as possible to begin with? Anyway, rumor back in March was that the Galaxy S5 Active will hit Sprint and AT&T, and likely other US carriers, possibly this year. Is bigger better? Read TechRadar's Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review Benchmark video reveals oddly familiar Galaxy S5 Active specs May 21st 2014, 20:47, by Michael Rougeau Yet another video of the alleged Samsung Galaxy S5 Active has appeared online, this one claiming to benchmark the unannounced Samsung flagship variant. The video, from YouTube channel TK Tech News, goes over the device in detail, though it's unclear how they got their hands on it. The video clocks the S5 Active with a 1920 x 1080 Super AMOLED display, a 16-megapixel camera, a quad-core Snapdragon 80-1 chip, Android 4.4.2 KiKat, 2GB of memory, and a heart rate monitor and barometer. In other words it's a carbon copy of the Samsung Galaxy S5 - at least on the inside. YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpQry0Zrm8A#t=18 A book by its cover Outside the Galaxy S5 Active appears to sport some metal and rubber that should help protect it from the elements (and being dropped during your regular mountain climbing and BMX activities). That "Active" in the name isn't just for show, after all. That may be the only difference between the S5 and the S5 Active - and while that may not sound like great news, it sort of is, when you consider that the Galaxy S4 Active actually had downgraded specs compared with the proper Galaxy S4. One has to wonder, though, why Samsung needs to bother with two variants of the S5 when they're identical except for one version's improved durability. Shouldn't the S5 have been as durable as possible to begin with? Is bigger better? Read TechRadar's Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review Updated: iPhone 6 release date, news and rumors May 20th 2014, 10:40, by Gareth Beavis and John McCann Release date, price and display The new iPhone could be one of the most pivotal devices in the Cupertino brand's history - with the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C simple updates to previous models, there's a lot of pressure heaped on the iPhone 6. As per usual, the internet is awash with rumor, speculation and downright lies over this next-generation handset, which is why we spend our time trawling through each nugget of info, debating its merits and curating it into this easy-to-read hub for all things iPhone 6. According to a survey of 4109 US consumers the iPhone 6 is the most anticipated Apple smartphone ever, with interest easily outstripping that of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5. iOS 7: Apple's new look for iPhone and iPad Some of you might have been expecting the iPhone 6 to have debuted in 2013, but given the iPhone's history - from the 3G onwards, there's always been a half-step S model before the next numbered iPhone - we were never going to get the 6 until 2014. In fact, it will technically be the iPhone 8 when it finally launches... but hey, who's counting these days? One thing is for sure, with the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and HTC One M8 now out in wild, Apple needs to be on its game with the new iPhone - and many believe a bigger screen is simply a must. Cut to the chase What is it? A major revision of the iPhone including entire design When is it out? September 2014 seems most likely What will it cost? Expect premium pricing for a premium smartphone iPhone 6 release date The iPhone 6 release date will be in 2014, although exactly when that will be in the year is still a little unclear. Multiple reports have spoken of a larger device from Apple at WWDC in June, but WWDC has never been about hardware. The announcement of the iPhablet seems unlikely with the focus likely to be on iOS 8 instead. At the very least, Apple appears to be testing a larger iPhone, but there's no guarantee it'll bring it to the market this year. Apple has launched the last few iPhones at a special event in September, so the smart money is on September 2014 for the iPhone 6's arrival. Not to mention the fact that according to ifun.de Apple is restricting holidays during September for employees at German Apple Stores, which strongly suggests a new hardware launch then. We'll likely see the new iPhone arrive, possibly along with the iWatch, running iOS 8 for the first time. While Apple will probably reveal details of its new operating system in June, we'll have to wait until September to actually see it in action on a handset. Your next smartphone If you're already thinking about your next mobile we've got everything you need to know about your next smartphone. HTC One M8 | Sony Xperia Z2 | Samsung Galaxy S5 | LG G3 All the news and secrets on 2014's forthcoming blockbusters to info on the best that's already here, we'll arm you with all the info you'll need to get your perfect smartphone. Find your next smartphone It's looking increasingly likely that we'll see more than one Apple handset this year though. KGI's analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has thrown his hat into the ring and seems to think a duo of new iPhones will be released, with a 4.7-inch iPhone coming out towards the end of the third quarter and a 5.5-inch iPhablet hitting the market late in the fourth quarter. Suggestions of both sizes arriving September could also hold water - but only if Apple keeps both products under the iPhone name. If if splits the larger device under a new name (such as the 'iPhone Air' as we recently heard it referred to) then a June and September launch could make sense. Though we've also heard that Apple has had trouble finding appropriate batteries for the 5.5-inch device and that as a result it might even slip into next year. After trawling through all the iPhone 6 rumors we kicked our render machine into gear and came up with a concept of what we'd like Apple's eighth generation flagship smartphone to look like. Check out our creation in the video below. FutTv : IZrksBKedN09a iPhone 6 price There's one thing we can be sure about when it comes to the iPhone 6 - it won't be cheap. Apple's legacy is a long line of premium devices sporting premium price tags and you can expect that trend to continue with the iPhone 6. One analyst even goes as far as predicting that Apple will hike up the price of the iPhone 6, possibly by as much as $100 (around £60, AU$110). With a larger screen, new glass covering the front and possibly even a new, more impressive, material used in construction, we can see that price hiking. We'd be surprised is the mooted 4.7-inch iPhone 6 would get such a massive price bump, as it needs to stay competitive, but the hike does make sense if Apple launches a larger, phablet sized iPhone. Bigger screen(s)? One of the most enduring rumors about the iPhone 6 is that it will have a bigger screen than the iPhone 5S. Apple has even acknowledged that consumers want a larger screen after an internal slide was revealed in its court battle with Samsung entitled "Consumers want what we don't have." According to Business Insider, of the many iPhone 6 prototypes Apple has made, one has a giant Retina+ IGZO display and a "new form factor with no home button. Gesture control is also possibly included." It will surely include Apple's new Touch ID finger print tech though? The Retina+ Sharp IGZO display would have a 1080p Full HD resolution. However we're not convinced that the prototype will make it to market. Ditching the home button would be a big change and no other rumors point in that direction. It has however been widely reported that Apple could introduce two handset sizes as it seeks to compete with the plethora of Android devices now on the market - with both being a lot thinner thanks to big improvements in LED backlight technology to reduce the thickness. With everything we've seen so far we reckon there will almost certainly be two screen sizes and resolutions, as mentioned above. A Full HD display makes perfect sense for the iPhone 6, especially if it grows to a 4.7-inch screen as mooted, and the iPhablet will push things even further to preserve the Retina experience on a larger display. In fact the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 has been tipped again alongside a larger 5.7-inch (or is that a QHD 5.5-inch screen?) model as part of Apple's double attack on the market following the 5S and 5C. While we'd love to see the Quad HD resolution adorn the iPhone 6, the fact it's such a great leap from the sub-720p Retina display on the 5S and 5C makes it seem very unlikely. The most recent resolution rumors come from insiders who claim that Apple has been testing a pixel-tripling display which would have a resolution of 1704 x 960. That's not quite full HD, but it would allow the phone to retain the iPhone 5S's 16x9 aspect ratio and give a 4.7 inch iPhone a pixel density of 416 pixels per inch and the rumored 5.5 inch phablet a density of 355 pixels per inch, both of which trump the 326ppi screen of the iPhone 5S. All that said, while a 5.5 inch iPhone is certainly looking likely we may have to wait longer than expected for it, as we're now hearing that the larger iPhone 6 has hit production problems, which may see it delayed until 2015. The 4.7-inch version is said to still be on track with an images of a supposed iPhone 6 production mold and front plate sneaking onto the web In other areas, patents show that Apple has been thinking about magical morphing technology that can hide sensors and even cameras. Will it make it into the iPhone 6? Probably not. There's still a small possibility of the iPhone 6 sporting a flexible wraparound display after more patents were uncovered, but we reckon that's more likely to feature on the iPhone 7 or 8 instead. Design and healthcare iPhone 6 design It's been suggested that there could be as many as three size variants of the new iPhone - check out these mocked up images by artist Peter Zigich, and that makes sense seeing as the iPhone 5C will need a sequel. He calls the handsets iPhone 6 Mini, iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 XL (these look rather like the iPhone 5C variant though). However, as ZDNet rightly points out, different size variants aren't exactly easy to just magic out of thin air. You can expect more premium metal to come your way with the iPhone 6 too, and Apple patents for liquidmetal 3D printing suggest there may be a new way to form the sultry chassis on the new iPhone. Writing in early January 2014, MacRumors quotes a batch of liquidmetal patents reportedly filed by Apple employees. This has been doing the rounds for a while though, and apparently it's a tricky material to work with. That chassis could well be the thinnest yet (thanks to that LED backlight we mentioned earlier) - with word that Apple will slim down the svelte 7.6mm 5S body for the iPhone 6, and if leaked images of the phone's case are legit the handset may well be shockingly slender. Apple has now been officially granted a patent for a flexible, curved handset design which sports a screen which wraps round the sides of the device. It's highly unlikely that the iPhone 6 will bear the fruits of this patent, as we expect the technology is still a few years off coming to market - but it could just be the curve ball Apple is looking for to inject the iPhone range with. We may however be in for a more subtly curved screen, as a rumor has popped up claiming that the iPhone 6's display will curve slightly at the edges so that it sits flush with the phones chassis, which itself will apparently also be curved, perhaps along the lines of the Samsung Galaxy S3 or even Apple's own iPhone 3GS. That's looking ever more likely as we've also now seen some images that purportedly show an iPhone 6 dummy and the screen seems ever so slightly curved. With talk of larger screens, we can expect the body of the iPhone 6 to grow and leaked schematic designs claim the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will be 66mm wide and 7.0mm thick (the 5S is 58.6 x 7.6mm). Further evidence for a super slim design comes from a video posted by Unbox Therapy, which shows a 6.1mm thick iPod touch Fifth Generation being put in a case supposedly designed for the iPhone 6 and fitting perfectly in terms of thickness if not length and width. Not the most scientific of tests perhaps, but along with those renders it certainly looks feasible that we could be in for a roughly 6mm thick handset. The larger 5.7-inch handset is said to be 77mm in width and a super svelte 6.7mm in depth - the Galaxy Note 3 is 79.2 x 8.3mm. These super slim dimensions have been given a little more fire power as photos supposedly showing off the design of the iPhone 6 reveal a slender smartphone. A larger screen means we should see a larger battery inside the iPhone 6 as well, which will hopefully help it match the impressive battery life we've witnessed on the Galaxy S5, One M8 and Xperia Z2. A larger body housing a larger screen would mean there would be some additional space which a larger power pack could accommodate, and we've even spotted an image claiming to show the iPhone 6 battery on the production line. We've also seen what is purportedly an iPhone 6 dummy unit. The handset has been put side by side with the iPhone 5S in the pictures, showing a much larger and more rounded but similarly slim device, which is roughly along the lines of what we're expecting based on other rumors. It takes some design cues from the likes of the iPad Air and Mini 2 - that's something we think would be a great idea, as those both have a great feel in the hand. Aside from the change in size and shape the other visible difference is that the power button has been moved to the side of the handset. This could of course be a fake, but moving the power button to the side would make sense given the larger size of the phone and a few more images have since appeared showing a similarly designed device. Another set of dummy images has since been unearthed, this time by 9to5Mac, showing the new handset in gold, silver and grey and they more or less match the previous ones, with a rounded design and a power button on the side. With evidence mounting it looks increasingly like this could be the shape of iPhone's to come, though being a dummy unit the hardware won't be final. An unbreakable display Here's an interesting one: Apple looks like it's signed a big deal to use a lot of sapphire glass in its phones, with the company buying up the technology to use the super-hard technology for its displays. Sapphire is already used by the Cupertino brand for its TouchID sensor cover and the camera glass, so extending it out makes a lot of sense. Whether it will be cost effective remains to be seen - but given iPhones are one of the top devices for broken screen repair, reducing this problem would go down nicely. However, there's an issue here: it's really expensive, and as such seems like it would bump up the cost of the phone too much for Apple, even though its customer base expects to pay a premium. Canonical's CEO thinks that the Cupertino firm has been buying up swathes of the material, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be used in the iPhone 6. Instead could this be for the iWatch? Seems more likely than an entire phone screen. Apple even has a patent for an oleophobic (anti-smudge) coating that works on sapphire crystal to ensure the surface doesn't get covered in grubby fingerprints - exactly what you need if you're going to cover the front of a phone with it, but again, we're inclined to think that the equally prod-prone iWatch is a more likely candidate. We're also hearing that it could even self heal, with Apple trying to patent a special screen coating that could heal to dramatically enhance the appearance of the iPhone 6, as well as other Apple products. FutTv : k5C7uNPo0Lkau NFC What's this? NFC in an iPhone? About time too. Well, that's what iDownloadblog reckons, quoting Jefferies analyst Peter Misek. He's not the only analyst tossing his hat into the iPhone 6 NFC ring, withMing-Chi Kuo also supporting the theory. It's a theory that's looking ever more likely as it's now been revealed that Apple has partnered with China UnionPay to add its banking service to Passbook. That in itself needn't mean NFC, but apparently users will also be able to make payments on China UnionPay's QuickPass machines, which use NFC. Many Android phones now boast NFC and Apple appears to have been happy to be left behind here, so we'd be a little surprised to see it suddenly rocking the contactless technology when it appears to be on the wane. Then again, the evidence for it is mounting. It could save your life - with iOS 8 With iOS 7 heading out of the traps now, who's betting against the next iPhone coming with iOS 8? We'd expect a September or October release date for iOS 8 in line with previous releases - although it's likely we'll see what the new software will entail from June this year. And owning one could definitely make you healthier, as Apple has apparently met with the FDA, according to the New York Times, to chat about the increased health-tracking software it will use in iOS 8. This will very likely be in association with the iWatch, which should debut at the same time as the new platform. However, the new iPhone will need to be a posterchild for the technology too, so with the news that it will apparently come with an array of sensors to monitor your health and environment, allowing you to track your prescriptions and monitor your health levels, we very much expect Apple to bring its new handset to the healthy fore as well. FutTv : qF7X7injV3X6R iPhone 6 processor and RAM Not a huge surprise, this one: the next processor will be a quad-core A8 or an evolved A7. The big sell here is more power with better efficiency, which should help battery life. Anyone hoping for some juicy Samsung technology hidden under the iPhone 6 body will be disappointed though, as reports suggest Apple is looking to push its Korean rival further out of the iPhone picture with its eighth-gen handset. Apple is apparently cutting the amount of A8 processors it is having made by Samsung, although it hasn't severed ties completely just yet. There's not been much word on how much RAM the iPhone 6 will come with, but KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reckons it will have 1GB, just like the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S before it. Camera and wireless charging The best iPhone camera yet Apple's bought camera sensors from Sony before, and this year there's signs that we're going to see a new, 13-megapixel sensor that takes up less room without compromising image quality. But that's not what everybody thinks. The China Post, quoting a tip from the country's Nomura Security, claims that the next iPhone won't go for a 12 or 16-megapixel sensor, instead sticking to the existing 8-megapixel unit. With more recent rumors suggesting that Apple has signed up to use a new material that will dramatically improve the quality of light trickling into the phone, a 10MP+ sensor could be possible - but we're more inclined to believe that, as another report recently suggested, Apple will stick with the current resolution. Why go for more megapixels if the pictures won't be any better? The notion that Apple will stick with an 8MP sensor might not be so good for marketing, but news states the iPhone 6 will have an f/2.0 aperture and dramatically enhanced image processing, so your snaps will look so good that most won't even care that the numbers are down. And you shouldn't - 5MP is enough to blow up a photo to A3 size, so when are you going to need more? Sun Chang Xu, the chief analyst at ESM-China, has also claimed on Weibo that the iPhone 6 will have 1.75 um pixels, compared to the 1.5 um pixels on the iPhone 5S. Bigger pixels let more light in and deliver better quality shots, particularly in low light, but if Apple is increasing the pixel size then that further suggests that the company won't be upping the megapixel count. On top of that, more impressive tech will also help make your snaps stand out. A patent confirms this, saying Apple's aim is to use "voice coil motor actuators" to move the lens around the optical axis. An Apple patent, uncovered by Apple Insider in May 2013, shows a system where an iPhone can remotely control other illuminating devices - extra flashes. It would work in a similar manner to that seen in professional photography studios. Interesting stuff, though there are dozens of Apple patents floating around and there's no reason to think this particular one will make it into a finished product. More convincingly, Sun Chang Xu reported on Weibo that the iPhone 6 will use Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS). That's a software alternative to Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). Both solutions aim to prevent images from coming out blurred, but while OIS uses moving parts to balance the camera, EIS uses software algorithms to compensate. It doesn't work as well as OIS, but with less hardware it allows the phone to be slimmer, lighter and cheaper to produce, so it looks like Apple might be going for a slim design at all costs. iPhone 6 Sapphire crystals GT Advanced Technologies provides crystal grow equipment and materials for consumer electronics, among other industries and has announced that it's signed a multi-year supply agreement with Apple to provide sapphire materials. Sapphire has figured prominently in recent Apple products - the iPhone 5S' Touch ID fingerprint reader features a cut sapphire crystal cover and the iPhone 5 was the first to feature a sapphire crystal lens.So what will we see in the iPhone 6? Certainly the Touch ID fingerprint reader, but also other scratch-proof materials - as we said, possibly the display, which makes a lot of sense. GT says it will own and operate the machinery to produce this stuff at a new Apple plant in Arizona - and as we mentioned above, Apple has bought a lot of this material, despite it being so goshdarn expensive that it might not be cost-effective to bring it as a screen cover. Apple has also filed a "Sapphire Windows" patent (discovered by Appleinsider) which details the numerous methods of growing, harvesting and polishing transparent sapphire wafers, then cutting them with advanced lasers. We wouldn't get too excited about this though. Given the cost we reckon Apple will only equip the Touch ID sensor and camera lens with the crystals, while the remainder will probably be used on the rumored iWatch. iPhone 6 wireless charging Wireless charging still isn't mainstream. Could Apple help give it a push? CP Tech reports that Apple has filed a patent for efficient wireless charging, but then again Apple has filed patents for pretty much anything imaginable. The tasty bit of this particular patent is that Apple's tech wouldn't just charge one device, but multiple ones. Here are more details on the iPhone 6 wireless charging patent. Wireless charging is slowly starting to pick up steam and Apple could give it just the push it needs to really get there, but we're not convinced we'll see the tech in the iPhone 6, as it seems like something that Apple's more likely to wait on until the infrastructure is in place to make it genuinely useful. Meanwhile, a further Apple patent seems to imply that future iPhones will be able to adjust volume as you move them away from your ear. Again, there's a big difference between a patent and a finished product and little reason to think it will make it into the iPhone 6, but it's certainly an interesting idea.

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