| New iPhone 6 leak may give us clearest look at the 4.7-inch handset yet Aug 20th 2014, 14:29, by Hugh Langley 
The iPhone 6 leaks are happening by the minute, it seems, and that's not going to let up as we approach the expected September launch. However, the latest pictures are probably the best yet, assuming this is what the phone would look like - and at this point we're betting that it's probably not far off. The shots of an assembled handset were shared by Feld & Volk via Instagram, and show the 4.7-inch handset from a number of different angles. Seeing it from the side gives us a good idea of how thin the handset might be - just 7mm if we're to believe the hype. 
Remember internetters, even if this is 100% legitimate, it's still not the finished product - Apple's new iPhone will undoubtedly look a bit more polished and complete in its final form. 
But these pictures align with all of the rumours and leaks that have spilled out thus far. It's got those curved edges, the iPod Touch-esque volume buttons, and the side-mounted power button. 
It's hopefully not long until the iPhone 6 is revealed in all its glory (and possibly with a 5.5-inch version alongside) - September 9 is being touted as the date of Apple's big press conference. - But will we get an iWatch to go with it?
       |  | Vodafone to trial Voice over LTE for 2015 launch Aug 20th 2014, 04:14, by Farrha Khan 
If you thought all the different types of emerging 4G LTE technology were getting too confusing, Vodafone Australia is adding to the mix with plans to introduce Voice over LTE (VoLTE) next year. In an announcement today, Vodafone said it will begin trialling voice services over its LTE network later this year for a broader roll out in 2015. "Customers have rapidly adopted 4G smartphones, which offer very fast data speeds. But no Australian network is offering voice calls on its 4G network, and our new core network will enable us to do that," said Benoit Hanssen, Vodafone Australia CTO. Reworking a networkThe announcement for the introduction of VoLTE in Australia comes with Vodafone also saying that it is completely modernising and consolidating its core network, just as Telstra and Optus prepare to switch on the 700MHz spectrum band for their 4G networks next year. Vodafone, which didn't buy any of the 700MHz spectrum during the Digital Dividend auction, said last month that its 4G network would reach 95% of Australia's metropolitan areas by the end of the year using its 850MHz spectrum holding. The telco says that its new core network will offer better network agility and flexibility, along with new LTE services like VoLTE. "With our enhanced indoor 4G coverage and voice calls on the same network, our customers will feel the difference. The call audio quality will be high definition, and call connection times will be significantly shorter," said Hanssen. "In other words, there will be virtually no time lag between the customer pressing the call button and the call being connected when they are using 4G."        | | Looks like the iPhone 6 will be the highest-resolution Apple phone yet Aug 19th 2014, 23:36, by Michael Rougeau 
It's past time for Apple to shake up the iPhone's image once again, and it's currently believed that it will do so by releasing two variants of the iPhone 6: one at 4.7 inches, and the other a 5.5-inch phablet. Before today we had yet to see any evidence of what resolution these two devices might be, but now it seems that they might have a 828 x 1472 resolution - or even a massive 1242 x 2208, significantly greater than existing iPhones' 640 x 1136 ratio. That's according to 9 to 5 Mac, which claims to have uncovered clues within iOS 8 files found in the latest Xcode 6 development kit beta. Long story short, files for the iOS springboard - the home screen from which apps are launched - might betray a resolution that doesn't match up with past devices. What are those extra pixels worth?And unlike when Apple made the iPhone 5S taller but not wider, this resolution might hint that the iPhone 6 is expanding on all sides, as previously thought. Despite its larger size, with this increased resolution the rumored 4.7-inch iPhone 6 would still be sharper than the 4-inch iPhone 5S. And with that 828 x 1472 resolution the screen on even the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 would still surpass the 300 pixels-per-inch that Apple defines as a Retina display. Obviously the greater resolution - 1242 x 2208 - would far surpass that as well, so much so that it actually seems unlikely, though it's impossible to tell for sure at this time. These larger 16:9 resolutions could also open up more screen real estate, according to 9 to 5's calculations, making room for Apple to potentially add more icons to each home screen. Whether or not that happens may come down to a design decision on Apple's part, though you can bet your bottom dollar that decision has already been made, if the iPhone 6 is going to launch in September as expected.        | | First Amazon Fire Phone update brings simple tweaks and better battery life Aug 19th 2014, 19:01, by JR Bookwalter 
By all accounts, Amazon's first foray into the smartphone universe hasn't quite set the world on fire, but early adopters are being treated to their first software update. The company kicked off the week by pushing out an over-the-air Fire OS 3.5.1 software update for the Fire Phone, which promises "new and enhanced features" for the e-tailer's freshman handset entry. The update is also available a manual download via PC or Mac. Fire OS 3.5.1 aims to address some of the initial pain points that have kept the Fire Phone from being all that it can be, starting with the ability to pin favorite apps to the home carousel. The update also includes the option to create folders of apps or other content into app grid Collections, while a double-press on the home button now enables Quick Switch for alternating between or shutting down apps or tasks that are currently running. New and improvedFans of Lenticular photos will be overjoyed to discover the Fire Phone can now create such content using 11 still images instead of only three, and the device is newly capable of sharing high-resolution videos via email or MMS as well. Not a fan of Amazon's built-in email app? The new Fire OS update will let users delete email missives right from the home screen, meaning one less trip to the app proper when all you want to do is purge some junk mail. Last but not least, the Fire Phone software release notes promise "dozens of system updates for enhanced battery performance," which will probably sound like music to the ears of users who've struggled to get through the day on a single charge. To download Fire OS 3.5.1 from your Fire Phone, drill down into Settings > Device > Install System Update > Check Now and wait as that little slice of heaven gets installed. Alternately, download the update (direct link) on your computer to push it to your device via USB. - Get Amazon on your television with our review of Fire TV!
       | | iPhone 6 may get speedier LTE thanks to an older modem Aug 19th 2014, 17:44, by JR Bookwalter 
Along with all of the other rumored improvements for Apple's next iPhone, the handset may be able to access cellular data faster than ever before. However, despite the boost, the iPhone 6 will apparently still lag behind its Android competitors. An image of what is allegedly a logic board for the iPhone 6 shows what appears to be a newer Qualcomm LTE modem on board. Although previous iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S models came equipped with a Qualcomm MDM9615 chip, the leaked image reveals a newer MDM9625. This model features LTE Advanced support for speeds up to 150Mbps as well as better LTE networking. The upgraded modem is also said to be more durable than the one that came before it and operate at a lower temperature, even in situations requiring heavier-than-normal performance. Speed demonsWhile it all sounds great for new iPhone buyers so far, in reality the Qualcomm MDM9625 modem isn't exactly the new kid on the block, having first debuted in 2012. Although the MDM9625 is technically future-proofed thanks to support for next-generation LTE-A networks that have yet to roll out worldwide, the modem lacks the latest Category 6 support, capable of up to 300Mbps throughput. LTE Advanced Category 6 is currently only available in South Korea, but already made its way onto Android flagship smartphones earlier this summer with an upgraded Samsung Galaxy S5 and more recently on the LG G3. Be that as it may, the iPhone 6 will still run circles around Apple's current-generation smartphones, and it's got even longer leeway before LTE Advanced becomes available globally.        | | Updated: Windows Phone 9 release date, news and rumors Aug 19th 2014, 15:35, by James Rogerson 
Windows Phone 9 introductionWindows Phone 8 is well over a year old now, yet we still know very little about Windows Phone 9. Originally it was expected to be with us by the end of 2013 as it was thought that Microsoft may adopt the annual software cycle made popular by Apple in an attempt to keep its mobile OS fresh and, more importantly, relevant. That didn't happen, but from the information that we've been able to gather so far it looks like Windows Phone 9 could be a massive overhaul, so it's not surprising that it's taken over a year. However we did recently get Windows Phone 8.1 to tide us over, while leaks highlight that Windows Phone 8.5 may also be on the cards. Before we get our teeth in Windows Phone 9 we need to visit the rumors surrounding version 8.5. It's been confused with the ninth iteration of the platform before, and it's important to make a distinction between the two. Windows Phone 8.5It looks like there might be such a thing as Windows Phone 8.5 in the works, but details are slim on the ground. All that's really known so far is that there will seemingly be some potentially quite substantial changes to the Start screen interface in Windows Phone 8.5, but there's no word yet on what form those changes may take. It's also worth noting that while we list this as a Windows Phone 8.5 feature it's entirely possible that it may end up in Windows Phone 9. Windows Phone 9 release date, news and rumoursNow we've got Windows Phone 8.5 out of the way we can get back on the Windows Phone 9 trail. We're scouring the web everyday to bring you all the latest on Windows Phone 9 and we'll be constantly updating the information below to give you the best picture of what's to come. Windows Phone 9 release dateBack on the WP9 trail, and initial rumors suggested that the Windows Phone 9 release date would be sometime in 2013, with reports claiming it would arrive just in time for Christmas, but as you might have noticed, Christmas has been and gone and we're now in a Windows Phone 9-less 2014. Other reports reckon Microsoft will kill off Windows Phone 8 by September 2014, giving an indication that while it didn't make it out the gates in 2013, version 9 could well be on its way very soon. 
That seems more likely and not only because it wouldn't require time travel to be true. Supporting that are comments from Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin, who posted to Twitter that Windows Phone 9 will launch in the second half of the year. He correctly predicted Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia, so he could be worth listening to. The update was also being referred to as Windows Phone Blue, a development name which mirrors an update to Microsoft's new Windows 8 desktop platform - but it's turned out that Windows Phone Blue is actually Windows Phone 8.1. Sadly the most recent rumors suggest we won't be seeing Windows Phone 9 until sometime next year. A leaked document mentions dates of between Q2 and Q3, which covers April-September 2015 and that's just for a preview build, so the final release might be even later. Windows Phone 9 or just Windows 9?We're seeing reports that suggest Microsoft may look to ditch the divide between its smartphone platform and the one it uses for tablets and PCs - rolling them all into one tidy bundle called Windows 9. One suggestion is that the upgrade will see Windows 8 merged with Windows Phone in an attempt to tackle Google's Android/Chrome combination which is growing ever stronger. Alternatively we could instead get the aforementioned Windows 9 all-in-one system after a Microsoft employee stated "currently testing Windows 9 OS on Nokia, HTC and Qualcomm device" on their LinkedIn profile. In fact it's now been all but confirmed that Microsoft intends to merge its operating systems, as during MIcrosoft's quarterly conference call CEO Satya Nadella said that "We will streamline the next version of Windows from three operating systems into one single converged operating system for screens of all sizes." Eldar Murtazin has something to say on this subject too, tweeting that Windows Phone 9 will be the same on phones and tablets, replacing Windows RT, though he made no mention of Windows 8, so that will possibly still be separate. We keep seeing mentions of it as Windows Phone 9, everywhere from LinkedIn profiles to leaked documents, so it looks like it may keep the 'phone' bit in the name at any rate. Windows Phone 9 featuresMurtazin also has some insight into the design of Windows Phone 9. Apparently it will be a complete overhaul which will remove the tile based Metro interface that Windows Phone is currently known for. That would make sense if Microsoft plans on using the same interface for both phones and tablets. It also ties into the rumors about Windows Phone 8.5 seeing some Start screen changes. Murtazin went on to say that the interface would be more influenced by Android than iOS. Windows Phone 9 devicesOne of the big issues with Windows Phone 8 was that you couldn't get it on your Windows Phone 7 handset, instead you were lumped with Windows Phone 7.8. 
It's thought that Windows Phone 9 won't be so restrictive, with Windows Phone 8 users in line to get the upgrade which means you shouldn't have to worry about picking up a Nokia Lumia 1520 or HTC 8X.   | | Vodafone gives Aussies 4G roaming in New Zealand Aug 19th 2014, 14:01, by Farrha Khan 
Faster international roaming has arrived, with Vodafone Australia announcing that it has switched on 4G global roaming in New Zealand for customers on the telco's Red plans. Vodafone had announced earlier this year that it will be rolling out global 4G roaming in mid-2014 for customers on its Roam Like Home Red plans in NZ, the UK and Europe. This follows Vodafone Australia's parent company, Vodafone Group, launching international 4G roaming late last year for its UK customers. The Red plans were launched last year in Australia, allowing customers to roam with their local plan allowance for just $5 extra a day in the UK, most of Europe, NZ, US and six countries in Asia. Global leverageThe Vodafone Group has been leveraging its international presence for cheaper roaming rates, and is now touting itself to have the largest 4G international roaming network. "We are pleased to announce Vodafone customers will now enjoy a great 4G experience right across the Tasman," said Kim Clarke, Vodafone Australia's Chief Marketing Officer. "The best part of all is that $5 roaming won't break the bank – it'll cost you just $70 for a two-week holiday to use all your inclusions form your home plan, just like you were at home in Australia." Vodafone Australia has said that it will be expanding 4G roaming in the UK and Europe, along with adding more countries later as well.   | | Meet Sharp's nearly bezel-less Aquos Crystal smartphones Aug 18th 2014, 18:25, by Kevin Lee 
Sharp is best known for producing household goods like great-looking TVs and ultra-efficient microwaves. After conquering home appliances, Sharp's next move looks to be turning itself into a global smartphone maker of note. The Japanese electronics firm has announced two new Aquos Crystal smartphones including one that is making its way stateside via Sprint. While the Aquos Crystal's name might sound sparkly, it has a 5-inch display with a so-so 1280 x 720 resolution. The most impressive feature about the phone is its sharp and thin rectangular design with almost no bezel around the screen. Thinner bezels not only look better, they also make it easier to hold handsets with massive screens like the LG G3. Low barHarman Kardon had a hand in designing the Aquos Crystal's sound processing technology. Previously the audio specialist helped tune a special edition HTC One M8 released exclusively for Sprint. The phone otherwise is fairly unremarkable with middling specs starting with yesteryear's 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, which we've seen on other budget handsets like the Moto G. It also has 1.5GB of RAM and Android 4.4.2 KitKat running on 8GB of internal storage. Camera-wise users won't find much to email to home about between its 8-megapixel rear shooter or 1.2MP front-facing sensor. Sprint to the finishSprint made the phone official on its network August 19, announcing the device will retail for a prepaid carrier price $149.99, or about £90/AU$161, whenever it goes on sale. SoftBank will also introduce a larger 5.5-inch Aquos Crystal X in Japan this December. As a slight step up from the Aquos Crystal, Sharp's model X will essentially be the company's phablet device complete with a 1080p screen, newer 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 processor and 13MP camera. There's no word on if or when the Aquos Crystal X might come to the US, but it looks like yet another Asian smartphone maker is hoping to join the fray alongside Samsung, LG and lesser-knowns like Huawei. - Will we also see the iPhone 6 splash onto Sprint sometime soon?
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