Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 08-12-2014

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Apple Maps surging back in fight against Google Aug 12th 2014, 12:07, by James Rogerson It would be easy to assume that Apple Maps is having a hard time, given its rough launch and the fact that despite making numerous strides since then it's still the subject of numerous jokes and criticisms. But, according to an EE study, not only is Apple Maps doing well, but it's actually outperforming Google Maps according to a recent Mobile Living Index study. The information, spotted by BGR, highlights that "Traffic on the new Apple Maps now represents 70% of mapping traffic on the 4G network, from 60% in the second half of 2013, taking market share from Google Maps, which is down 7ppts. "This difference is even more marked over 3G where Apple Maps is up 19ppts and Google Maps is down 15ppts." The info suggests that iPhone users are using mobile mapping far more than Android users and that they're choosing to use Apple Maps for it. Inconclusive Of course it's hardly a conclusive study. It only looks at the UK and only at users of the EE network. EE also neglects to mention what percentage of its users have an iPhone, so it could be a disproportionately high number, and anecdotally we hear that the iPhone is the number one seller on that network, which means Apple Maps (which is preloaded) is always going to get a head start. There's also the question of data: could Apple Maps be sucking down more bytes to achieve the same thing compared to its Android counterpart, on both iOS and Google's platform? And of course there's the fact that this survey was carried out with 1000 people, which only just teeters into the realm of acceptable sample size. Nevertheless it certainly bodes well for Apple's mapping contender and comes as something of a surprise given the seeming ubiquity of Google Maps. Apple Maps has come on leaps and bounds since just 4% of iPhone users were standing by it in 2012. Samsung's Galaxy Note Edge could be its three-sided phablet Aug 12th 2014, 09:58, by James Rogerson Despire the fact we may have just seen the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 with a normal-looking screen, rumours of a wraparound display refuse to die. The latest hint of such a device comes in the form of a trademark for the Galaxy Note Edge, filed at the USPTO and found by galaxyclub.nl. There's absolutely no information on it other than the name, but the inclusion of the word 'Note' obviously means that it's intended to be part of the Note line, while the word 'Edge' might be a reference to the curved, edge-covering screen that a three-sided Note could have. Of course that's a whole lot of speculation, but this isn't the first time that we've come across the idea of a curved Note, so it's as good a guess as any. Even if that is the intention, a trademark is a long way from being a finished product, so the three-sided display may not show up until the Note 5. Flat or curved? The choice might be yours It's also worth noting that by calling it the Galaxy Note Edge rather than just the Galaxy Note 4 there's a suggestion that it might be a spin-off from the main range. So we may get a normal, flat Galaxy Note 4 and then a deliciously odd Galaxy Note Edge alongside it, which is another rumour we've heard before and would make sense, as Samsung would be betting big on a curved screen to put it on every Galaxy Note 4. We should have some revelations as to what's going down in Samsung land soon enough, as the company wants us to 'Note' September 3. Whatever could that be about? Apple's iPhone 6 might come in a phablet flavour if you want a Note 4 alternative. Xperia Z3 Compact appears at the FCC and gets snapped again Aug 12th 2014, 09:25, by James Rogerson The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is certainly getting around. Just the other day it was spotted in Russia and now it's popped up in America. The pint sized phone appears to have been spotted on the FCC database by Phone Arena. As usual with the FCC the listing doesn't reveal a huge number of details, but two versions of the device listed as PM-0810 and PM-0812 were spotted, with seemingly the only difference between the two being the 4G bands they support. As well as 4G, both were listed as coming with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC, while the phone is apparently 127 mm x 64.9 mm and the display diagonal is 4.57 inches, which more or less matches up with the 4.6-inch screen rumours that we've been hearing. Not camera shy As well as appearing at the FCC, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact was also snapped again and the photos were picked up by Xperia Blog. These are very like the last set of images we saw and give us a good look at the 1/2.3-inch 20.7MP Exmor RS camera and LED flash. They also show us the sides of the phone, highlighting other details such as the presence of a dedicated camera button on one side and a single flap on the other, which houses both the micro USB port and the microSD card slot. We seem to be getting a pretty good picture of the phone and it's no wonder, with the Z3 Compact expected to be announced at the beginning of September. The full sized Xperia Z3 is on the way too. In Depth: Android L (5.0) release date – when can I get it? Aug 12th 2014, 09:04, by James Rogerson Android L release date Android L is now out in the open and it includes a handful of new features, a visual overhaul and numerous under-the-hood improvements to make if faster, more efficient and lighter on your battery, but while we know all about it, it's not yet available for public consumption. Even once it does launch it will be down to individual manufacturers to port it to their devices, so chances are you'll still be waiting a while to get it on your phone and tablet (unless you've gone full Nexus already) and most companies haven't yet been all that forthcoming with details of when they'll bring it to their phones and tablets. But we do know some things and we can take educated guesses at others, so read on for all the information and theories on when you might see Android L on your device. Google Android L is Google's baby and so you can guarantee that some of its Nexus devices will be the first to get it. The developer preview is already available for the Nexus 5 and the new Nexus 7, so presumably they'll be the first two devices to get the final version. That makes sense as they're the most recent Nexus devices. As for when that will be, Google hasn't gone into specifics, but it has said that Android L should be available 'this fall', which presumably means sometime in September, October or November. And don't forget: Google likes to release big updates to Android with a specific device as well, which means we could have seen the Nexus 6 and Nexus 8 at the same time to join the Android L party. According to Google it supports its devices for around 18 months, which means the original Nexus 7, the Nexus 10 and the Nexus 4 might not get the update, though we reckon that there's a good chance that they will, especially as Google has published Android L source code for all those devices. Assuming they do get Android L they're likely to be among the first devices to receive it too. Any Nexus device older than them is all but guaranteed not to get it however, meaning the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S owners are plum out of luck. Google Play Edition devices, such as the HTC One Play Edition and the Samsung Galaxy S4 Play Edition fall within the 18 month update window so they're also likely to get it. Better yet, they'll probably receive the update shortly after it hits Nexus devices. Technically it's up to the device manufacturers, not Google, but as they run stock Android it should take minimal time and work to upgrade them. In fact the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play Editions started getting the Android 4.4.3 update within a day of it hitting Nexus handsets, so the wait might be tiny. HTC HTC has been more forthcoming with its update plans than most manufacturers and it's no surprise given how quickly it plans to bring the update to users. In a statement the company said: "HTC is excited about the new features in Android L and we can't wait to share them with our customers. We are committed to updating our flagship HTC One family as fast as possible. "We will begin rolling out updates to the HTC One (M8) and HTC One (M7) in regions worldwide within 90 days of receiving final software from Google, followed shortly thereafter by other One family members and select devices." Doing the mathematics that means the company's most recent two flagships should get Android L either at the end of the year or possibly in January of next year, depending on exactly when Google launches Android L. We're going to go ahead and assume that most other HTC handsets released in the last year or so will also get the update at some point. As a general rule the more recent and high profile a device is the more likely it is to get an update, so the HTC One Mini 2, the HTC One Mini and perhaps the HTC One Max and some of the recent Desire handsets are likely to get the update, though probably not until sometime after the One M7 and the One M8. Samsung Samsung is yet to shed any light on when it will be bringing Android L to its phones, which is a shame, given just how many people are walking around with a Samsung handset. We can take an educated guess though. Assuming it launches after Android L, the Galaxy Note 4 is likely to come running the new version from day one and if not it will likely be updated quickly - current guesses have this model showing up at IFA in September, which may be a little early to launch with Android L. The Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 3 are likely to get the update very shortly after it launches, probably within the same sort of several month timeframe as HTC is operating under. These are major handsets so Samsung will want to get the update to them ASAP, not to mention the fact that the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 3 received the Android 4.4 update very soon after it launched. Other Samsung handsets may have to wait a little longer as the company is still in the process of bringing Android 4.4.2 to certain devices, however we'd expect that most high profile devices released in the last 18 months to 2 years will get the update, including the Samsung Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S4 Mini and the yet-to-be-released Galaxy S5 Mini. We doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S3 or anything older will get Android L. It's a device that's already over two years old and some versions of it didn't even get Android 4.4. Samsung also sometimes neglects lower end devices, for example the Galaxy Ace 3 never got updated, so we doubt it will this time either and similarly the upcoming Galaxy Ace 4 is unlikely to get a taste of Android L. Samsung doesn't seem great at updating its tablets either. There's a good chance recent slates like its Note Pro and Tab S ranges and even the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 will get Android L but anything older or low end is iffy. Sony We asked Sony about its Android L plans and a spokesperson replied that: "We're enthused by early reaction to the "Android L" preview. Whilst we can't share roadmap specifics yet, we'll continue to bring unique Sony software matched with the latest Android experiences to as many Xperia users as possible - so stay tuned." So the company is staying quiet for now, but the response does hint that it's interested in bringing Android L to its devices, as you might expect. There's a fair chance that the Sony Xperia Z3 will launch with Android L, especially as the Xperia Z2 shipped with Android 4.4.2, which at the time was the latest version and had only been available for a few months. However, again, the Z3 will be launched in September at IFA, so that might be a little early for the next version of Android. Speaking of the Z2, that model will likely get updated to Android L and users are unlikely to have to wait long for it as Sony brought the last update, Android 4.4.4, to some of its handsets within a week of launch. Sure, that's a minor release but it still shows that Sony is committed to delivering updates in a timely fashion. We'd also expect that the Sony Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z1 Compact will get Android L within the first few months that it's available. There's a good chance the Xperia Z will get it too, but with it approaching 18 months old this is likely to be the last major update it receives. As for tablets, the Xperia Z2 Tablet is pretty much a dead cert, though it may have to wait a while as Sony didn't bring Android 4.4 to the Xperia Tablet Z till almost 7 months after the software became available. There's a good chance that the Tablet Z will get the update too, but as with the Xperia Z this will probably be the last major update it gets, if it does receive it at all. LG LG has told us that it currently has no update "on if / when Android L will be coming to the LG G3." That 'if' doesn't fill us with confidence, but we'd be very surprised if the company's flagship didn't get the new version of Android. Not only would it be a strange decision not to, but the LG G2 got updated from Android 4.2 to Android 4.4. The update started rolling out roughly four months after Android 4.4 launched, so if the same thing happens again then you can expect the LG G3 to get it early next year. We imagine that the LG G2 and LG G2 Mini will probably get updated too and the LG G3 Beat is bound to get updated. Motorola Motorola's VP of product management Punit Soni replied to a Google Plus user's question of whether the Moto X would get Android L with a simple "Yup". So it's coming for at least that phone, but Soni didn't shed any light on when. Prior to that, AndroidOrigin reported that a customer service representative told a user that both the Moto G and the Moto X would be getting Android L, while they had no information on whether or not the Moto E would be getting it. That doesn't sound hugely promising for the Moto E but it's good news for Motorola's other two recent handsets. Of course you should take this with a pinch of salt, as it's rare for customer services to give out information ahead of an official announcement. Still, we'd be surprised if Motorola didn't bring Android L to at least the Moto G alongside the X, given how popular that handset is. Motorola's UI is very close to stock Android as well so it shouldn't be as much work to get new versions up and running and back when the company was owned by Google it was pretty prompt with updates, unsurprisingly. Things might be different now that Lenovo's in the driving seat, but we doubt there'll be too long a wait for Android L on the Moto X and perhaps also the Moto G and Moto E. OnePlus The OnePlus One is still bizarrely hard to get hold of thanks to the requirement for an invitation, but if you have managed to get your hands on one you'll be pleased to know that the company plans to upgrade it Android L (or a CyanogenMod build based on Android L anyway). In a statement posted to the OnePlus forums a staff member confirmed that not only would its first and only handset be getting Android L, but that it would arrive within three months of Google releasing a final build. So the same time frame as HTC in other words. Huawei Like most manufacturers, Huawei hasn't yet shared any details on its Android L plans. Unfortunately it's not always the quickest at updating its phones either as it only recently started rolling out Android 4.4 to the Ascend P6 for example and the Ascend G6 is still waiting for it. The company's latest flagship, the Ascend P7, shipped with Android 4.4 and we imagine it will probably get Android L, but possibly not any time soon. We're less sure whether any of the company's other phones will get it, but fingers crossed. ZTE If you're one of the relatively few with a ZTE handset you might be wondering if and when Android L will be arriving for it. Unfortunately so are we and this is one case where it's very much an 'if' rather than a 'when'. Fairly recent phones like the ZTE Blade V and the ZTE Blade Q Mini launched with old versions of Android and they haven't been updated, so we're not optimistic that they'll get Android L. Nvidia Nvidia might not be high on most people's radars when it comes to Android devices, but gaming fans might be interested in knowing if and when the Nvidia Shield will be getting Android L. Nvidia told us that "we've worked hard to support every official Android release in the past, as you can see with our SHIELD portable and our software team is always working hard to bring new features and the latest updates with no delay. We try to make sure that updates come as close to their announcement as possible." So while it didn't go so far as to confirm anything it sounds very likely that the Nvidia Shield will get Android L and probably quite soon after launch. There's a new version of iOS on the way too. Telstra buys up video streaming company Ooyala Aug 12th 2014, 01:02, by Farrha Khan Australian telecommunications company Telstra announced today that it has increased its stake in US-based Ooyala to a majority 98% with a US$270 million (about £161.07, AU$291.50) investment. Ooyala provides video streaming solutions and analytics for global broadcasters, pay-TV operators and online media sites including Telstra, ESPN, Univision, Telegraph Media Group, Dell, Sephora, Foxtel, NBC Universal, Comedy Central, News Corp, Yahoo! Japan and The Washington Post. Telstra had already invested US$61 million (about £36.37, AU$65.86) over the last 2 years in the company for a 23% shareholding, and the new acquisition is still subject to customary closing conditions and US regulatory approval. A global cloud Telstra CEO David Thodey said that the Aussie telco's investment in Ooyala would help build the Silicon Valley-based company into a world leading personalised video platform company by providing ongoing investments and business relationships. "Ooyala is one of the industry's fastest-growing personalised video platform companies... Our investment allows Ooyala to take their solution to the next level and thereby further accelerate its growth," Thodey said. "This provides an opportunity for Telstra and Ooyala to establish a consolidated leading global company to deliver platforms and services on which the next generation of TV and video will be built." Ooyala CEO Jay Fulcher has said that Telstra has worked with Ooyala closely over the past 2 years and have a "shared a vision" for the future of TV and video content delivery. "Their investment will help us accelerate our growth and cement our lead as the most innovative and forward-thinking cloud TV and video platform company in the world," Fulcher said. Foxtel engaged Ooyala to help build Foxtel Presto - check out our review of the movies-on-demand streaming service These mid-range HTC phones aim to be the objects of your Desire Aug 11th 2014, 23:30, by Michael Rougeau HTC is still grappling with Samsung for the high-end Android market, but while the HTC One M8 and Galaxy S5 are at one another's throats HTC is sneaking in a quick jab elsewhere: the US mid-range market. The Taiwanese company has announced it's launching its Desire line of mid-range handsets, including the HTC Desire 610 and the HTC Desire 816, in the US for the first time. These phones have some similarities with HTC's popular flagships, but with slightly gimped specs in exchange for more budget-friendly price tags. And HTC says they're only the beginning, with more Desire phones launching later in 2014. Little phones that can The HTC Desire 610 has a 4.7-inch 540 x 960 display, 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 chip, 8GB of storage, 1GB of RAM, microSD support, and 8- and 1.3-megapixel cameras. A slightly higher-end handset, the Desire 816 packs a 5.5-inch 720p screen, 1.6GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400, 8GB of storage, 1.5GB of memory and 13- and 5-megapixel shutters. Both have some signature HTC features, including HTC BoomSound, HTC's built-in image editing and effects suite, and HTC Sense 6 with BlinkFeed, though neither can match the HTC One flagship family in raw specs. Thankfully their prices reflect that: the Desire 610 is available through AT&T for $199 - no contract required - and the Desire 816 launches through Virgin Mobile for $299 with the carrier's Beyond Talk no-contract plan on August 12. HTC One M8 for Windows leaked specs show there won't be many surprises HTC One M8 for Windows leaked specs show there won't be many surprises Aug 11th 2014, 18:58, by JR Bookwalter Fans of Microsoft's mobile operating system will soon be able to enjoy one of the slickest Android smartphones around, minus Google's software. And judging from newly leaked specs, little else but the operating system has changed. WP Central scored details that the previously leaked HTC One M8 for Windows will be exactly what you think it is: HTC's coveted hardware running Windows Phone 8.1 instead of the latest flavor of Android. Supporting this hypothesis are a set of leaked hardware specs which essentially match the existing HTC One M8 for Android, starting with the 5-inch Super LCD3 display with a 441 ppi pixel density and 1080 x 1920 resolution, protected by Gorilla Glass 3. Internally, the same quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 processor keeps things humming along, paired with 2GB RAM and 32GB of on-board storage, expandable up to an additional 128GB with optional microSD card. But it runs Windows! There's certainly nothing wrong with HTC sticking to what already works. This includes a 2,600mAh battery, stereo BoomSound speakers, 5MP front-facing camera and the Taiwanese manufacturer's best Duo rear-facing camera lens rounding out the package. Although the handset may be short on surprises, Microsoft worshipers will be coupling all this attractive hardware with the latest Cortana voice assistant-equipped Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 for a tantalizing little package. HTC will also be including their own BlinkFeed software for good measure, and the smartphone will work just fine with existing HTC Dot View cases when the handset presumably breaks cover at next week's media event in New York City. Can't make it to the Big Apple on August 19? Rumor has it the HTC One M8 for Windows could land on Verizon only two days later, where it's expected to sell for $199.99 (about £119, AU$216) with a two-year agreement, or double the current asking price of the Android edition. Bask in the warm glow of our Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review! Cortana may have a prominent seat at the Windows 9 table Aug 11th 2014, 18:52, by Chris Smith Microsoft is planning to integrate Cortana - the voice-powered digital assistant from Windows Phone 8.1 - within its next major desktop OS release, according to reports on Monday. Following earlier word from Neowin claiming the Cortana is 'up and running' inside of Windows 9 test builds, the site now says it is operational and performance on desktop is improving. Neowin also claims the tool is being targeted for the final release of Windows 9 (currently codenamed Windows Threshold), expected in spring 2015. The reports are corroborated by The Verge, whose sources claim the tool is gradually getting better every couple of weeks along its journey to an eventual roll out within Windows 9. Simple app? So what form will Cortana take within Windows 9? Well Neowin says it is a "simple app that opens up the personal digital assistant where you can then either type in your question or ask verbally inside a smallish window. It's not a full-screen experience like you see on Windows Phone." However, it's clear that could alter significantly between now and Windows 9's release date. Microsoft is expected to launch a preview release before 2014 is out. The reports follow speculation earlier this month hinting that Siri may make the move from iOS to the Mac OS X desktop software, based on an Apple patent filing from 2012. Are we all set for the Siri vs Cortana battle to move to the desktop arena? Keep up to speed with all of the latest Windows 9 news The Moto G2 release date could be soon, but you won't like the price Aug 11th 2014, 18:51, by Michael Rougeau The Moto X+1 isn't the only rumored Motorola phone whose release date may have just been outed. Hours after the leak that said the Moto X successor will launch September 25 comes another report from GSM Arena claiming the Moto G2 will be released September 10. This Moto G2 (or possibly Moto G+1) release date seems to apply to Europe and possibly the UK, since the site also gives a possible price of €250 (about $335, £200, AU$360). These numbers come from a retailer who reportedly got them straight from Motorola, so they may have some merit. Money = power As the site points out the alleged price is double what the original Moto G cost, which goes directly against the earlier rumor that the G2 could be even cheaper than its predecessor. Will its specs live up to the price hike? The Moto G2 or Moto G+1 has been benchmarked in the past, and it looks like it will have a bigger screen (five inches at 720p) and several upgraded specs. These include a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 chip, 8GB of storage, 8- and 2-megapixel cameras, and Android KitKat. But unfortunately it currently seems like the Moto G successor's RAM will remain stuck at 1GB. With less than a month to go until the Moto G2's alleged release date, expect Motorola to make an announcement soon, possibly at IFA 2014 in early September. What Lenovo buying Motorola means for your next smartphone Lumia 1020 sequel likely as Microsoft readies pre-IFA 2014 event Aug 11th 2014, 16:57, by Michelle Fitzsimmons Well look what showed up in our inbox today - an invite to a Microsoft event in Berlin September 4. This of course coincides with the kick-off of IFA 2014, and we're looking for Microsoft to unveil the follow-up to the Lumia 1020. Several hints on the invitation lead us to believe this is the device the Softies plan on revealing. For one, it reads "ready for more" in prominent text, signaling a sequel is on the way. The "o" in "more" also bears resemblance to the Lumia 1020's rear camera, a 41MP behemoth that one praise in our review. The Lumia 1020 follow-up may be one in the same with the rumored "Superman" phone, a selfie-centric device that packs a 5MP front-facing camera. The invitation does coax attendees to "join us for more face time," which could be a reference to front camera-enabled video chatting features. Bring it on A new flagship phone comes at a fascinating time for Microsoft. Now under the helm of only its third CEO and with Nokia living under its corporate umbrella, the Redmond firm could stand to wow consumers with a standout device that boasts more than just a powerful snapper. This is especially important as the iPhone 6 launch looms large and Samsung continues to saturate the Android market with phones. In fact, Sammy has its own event scheduled for September 3 where it will almost certainly unveil the Galaxy Note 4. You can count on TechRadar to be on hand at the September 4 gathering to see whatever Microsoft has planned. Let us know - are you all in with a Lumia 1020 2 or do you want to see Microsoft show off something else? After IFA the next big thing is CES 2015!

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