| EE encouraged by 4G adoption Jul 25th 2014, 11:00, by Desire Athow 
Things look bright for 4G network EE whose interim results show that revenue has been holding in a market where others have had a tough time. EE saw a record 1.3 million 4G customers added in the second quarter of the year, the most ever by a European operator over a three-month period. In the UK, the number of 4G customers has doubled to 4.2 million or nearly 50% on the previous quarter. The company now expects to hit 6 million customers by the end of the year. Mobile ARPU (average revenue per user) went up by 2.2% year on year including regulatory impact (possibly referring to cuts on mobile termination rates) The rise in ARPU can be partly attributed to the shift from PAYG to contract customers, a lower churn rate (at 1.1%) and a growing Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) base thanks to Virgin Media, soon to be joined by BT. 4GEE now has more than 5500 corporate customers including Deloitte and Essex Police with a survey commissioned by TNS showing that 4G is having a "major positive impact on business productivity".
M2M and fixed broadband uptake has also been positive with 30,000 new fibre customers and 75,000 new M2M installations.        |  | Future iDevices will know when you're exercising Jul 25th 2014, 09:35, by John McCann 
Jumping jacks... hit em! 1... 2... 3... Now we've got you feeling so pumped up, let's talk exercise and Apple. A new Apple patent spotted by AppleInsider seems to suggest the Cupertino firm is working on a system which will allow iPhones and other connected devices to detect when you're working out. The patent itself is titled "Method and Apparatus for Automatically Adjusting the Operation of Notifications Based on Changes in a Physical Activity Level." In layman's terms it means when your iPhone, iPod, iWatch etc detects that you're exercising the device can automatically change some settings - such as switching on Do Not Disturb - to ensure you're not distracted. Just the start?While "Do Not Disturb" is mentioned frequently in the patent application, the setup could feasibly be rolled out to a wider selection of modes, allowing you to automatically customise your iDevice during a gym session. The system will have to be able to distinguish between a proper workout and a short burst of activity, but it seems Apple is already on top of this. The filing states: "a short burst of activity - e.g., running to catch a bus - is not mistaken for the beginning of an exercise workout," It does raise questions over what other activities Apple may get future iDevices to look for, from detecting when you're in a car to knowing you're getting into bed - it could all get very Big Brother.        | | Leaked Gear VR app reveals software side of Samsung's headset Jul 24th 2014, 22:37, by klee 
Gear VR is Samsung's latest not-so-secret project to hit the interwebs. So far we've learned about its existence, what it could look like, and now someone has spilled the beans on its smartphone-connected interface. SamMobile has gotten its hands on a leaked version of the Gear VR manager, the supposed companion smartphone app to Samsung's virtual reality headset. After launching the app and signing an end user agreement, the Gear VR manager downloads a number of core features including VR Panorama and VR Cinema. From the names of the software we can guess VR Panorama will allow users to view images, while Cinema displays video. Virtual totems Aside from the media viewing options, it seems an HMT Manager will let users setup multiple parameters for their VR viewing experience.
Chief amongst the tools is Calibration, which will adjust your Galaxy device's sensors and display Gear VR's requirements. Adding in the fact that Galaxy device will display an Undock Alert upon disconnecting, it seems more likely than ever the Gear VR will use Galaxy handset as the headset's screen. Earlier renders suggested Gear VR would slot in a smartphone in front of users' eyes similar to Google Cardboard. The difference here is that Google Cardboard is more DIY while Samsung seems to be gearing up for a premium product release. Digging even deeper into the HMT Manager reveals a user will be prompted with a message every hour reminding them that they are in a virtual world and not reality in case, you know, you end up on an Inception level of immersion. You may notice that "right" is misspelled in the image above. This may be an early version typo, or a sign that this leak is less than legitimate. Speak your mindOther screenshots illustrate the ability for users to navigate their VR experience using a touchpad on the right side of the headset while they wear their smartphone. They will also apparently be able to launch apps using S-Voice by saying "Hi Galaxy" before dictating the name of the application. Samsung Gear VR almost looks like a certain reality given all the leaks so far, but we'll have to wait to get our eyes on this crazy concept before we can really believe in it. - Oculus Rift still takes the cake as the best VR experience we've seen thus far
  | | iOS patent mutes notifications when you exercise Jul 24th 2014, 21:11, by klee 
iOS 8 was expected to include some small nods to health tracking, but now it seems Apple is thinking of dynamically turning off notifications when users are exercising. AppleInsider spotted a new patent that explains an iPhone would automatically kick itself into "Do Not Disturb" mode when it detects users are exercising. While the iDevice is in this mode, all notifications from text messages, phone calls and emails will be muted to let users focus on their run or other workout routines. Once the smartphone detects its owner is done with their workout it will supposedly also return back to normal mode on its own. On the flipside, if your iPhone notices you have not worked out for a while it could pop reminders to go for a run. The patent also implies iDevices will send a message to users' Mac screen advising them to get up from their desk after they've been sitting around for too long. Personal e-trainerSupposedly, this functionality will be tied to the iPhone's own built-in sensors or another wearable device. At WWDC 2014 Apple revealed iOS 8 would come with built-in HealthKit software. The new API was primarily designed so that fitness data pulled from wearables, like the Nike FuelBand SE or the rumored iWatch, could be stored on the iPhone and shared across other devices. Seeing as the data will pass through the iPhone already, it would be simple for Apple to program a "Do Not Disturb" mode to automatically start. It's a feature that users can manually flick on in seconds by reaching into their notifications center and, if the feature works as planned, could be another simple and elegant trick to Apple's mobile interface. - Will the iPhone 6 be a health-centric smartphone?
       | | Did Instagram's rumored Snapchat rival pop up in Android banner ad? Jul 24th 2014, 19:29, by JR Bookwalter 
Facebook-owned Instagram has been rumored to be working on a new photo messaging app to go head-to-head with popular rivals like Snapchat, and evidence supporting such hearsay may have just turned up in the most unlikely of places. The Verge today reported that Instagram appears to have mistakenly leaked the existence of a new Snapchat competitor called Bolt, which turned up as a new banner ad inside the current Instagram for Android app. "Introducing Bolt," the screenshot snapped by Twitter user Richard Groves late Wednesday reads, promising "one tap photo messaging" and offering a link to download the free app via the Google Play Store. Needless to say, that particular button goes absolutely nowhere, and the mysterious banner ad vanished 15 minutes later, but not before other late-night internet users managed to spot the same message lurking in their own Instagram installations. Nothing to see here?This certainly wouldn't be the first time Facebook has tested unannounced features inside its mobile apps, with the recent iOS app Slingshot actually leaking onto the App Store before the social network had the chance to announce its existence. While it's easy to connect the dots and assume Bolt could be a Snapchat wannabe, a separate report from TechCrunch arrived at an entirely different conclusion, suggesting the app could be a fictional title instead. "It's worth pointing out that there's nothing in this leak that specifically confirms that Bolt is a forthcoming Instagram-owned property," remarked Sarah Perez, hypothesizing "Bolt" could simply be a placeholder for parent company Facebook's lucrative mobile app install ads. We've reached out to Instagram for further clarification one way or another, but in the meantime, Instagram lovers on Android should keep their eyes peeled for the elusive banner ad that kicked off all this speculation in the first place.        | | Sony Xperia Z3 papped again following alleged spec list leak Jul 24th 2014, 18:59, by Chris Smith 
When the alleged specs for the Sony Xperia Z3 leaked out on Wednesday, many pondered where there'd be any tangible difference between it and the current Xperia Z2. After seeing yet more spy shots of the next Sony flagship 24 hours later the question marks not only remain, but will be somewhat intensified. Notorious Twitter leak artist @evleaks (who also shared that spec sheet), has obtained a couple of in-the-wild shots claimed to be of the Z3, showing the device super-slim profile and the rear perspective Judging from the pictures and those leaked previously, not a lot has changed in the looks department either. Minor bumpEarlier this weeks @evleaks claimed the Z3 would have a 5.15-inch 1080p HD display, just like the Z2. He also hinted it would rock a 2.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, a marginal improvement on the 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 within its predecessor. The 20.7-megapixel camera would remain unchanged, as would the 3GB of RAM, according to the report. If that's the case, is Sony setting itself up for a fall with its bi-annual flagship refresh or does it have something bigger - literally and figuratively - in the works? Check out the link below...        | | Lenovo debuts its prototype smart glasses Jul 24th 2014, 17:37, by klee 
Google Glass could have a new competitor (or copycat depending on your viewpoint) in the form of a Lenovo wearable. Lenovo pulled the wraps off its latest prototype at an event intended to attract developers and hardware manufacturers to the new platform. The only snag? The new device looks almost identical to the Explorer edition of the Google Glass released earlier this year. The only discernible difference between Lenovo's device and Google Glass is that the battery has been moved from behind the user's ear to a pack that hangs near the neck. There aren't any further details on hardware - but, Lenovo has promised to announce more details in October according to a PC World Report. 
Smart glasses, air purifiers, whateverThe smart glass prototype was just one of the many devices Lenovo had on show as part of a larger NBD platform. The Chinese NBD translates to "New Bench" in English and, recently, has driven Lenovo's mission to create products beyond PCs and smartphones. The PC maker wants to use its new platform as a way to work with more hardware partners on an expanded line of products including smart glasses, wireless routers and air purifiers. So far NBD has already caught the attention of a German electronics manufacturer to produce Luftmed, an affordable, smartphone-controllable air purifier. Lenovo also displayed a wireless router at the event that it co-developed with other Chinese companies that users could control remotely with a smartphone. Products developed on the NBD Platform will be primarily sold in China first, but after the initial run there's a chance Lenovo will choose to bring its new devices to other territories - just as the company did with its formerly Asia-only tablets and SmartTVs. - Could NBD help Lenovo-owned Motorola create more wearables beyond the Moto 360?
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