Review TechRadar: Phone and communications news 08-26-2014

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Huawei's sapphire Ascend P7 just beat iPhone 6 to the punch Aug 26th 2014, 12:47, by Hugh Langley Whether or not the iPhone 6 will come with a sapphire display remains to be seen, but Huawei has jumped in ahead of Apple by outing a sapphire variant of its Ascend P7. A picture of the phone was teased by Huawei Device Chairman Yu Chengdong over Wiebo, which suggests we may see it arrive as soon as IFA 2014. The existing P7 comes with a 1.8GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13MP rear camera (8MP on the front) and 16GB of internal storage. We expect the updated P7 to sport the same internals, but that sapphire display will no doubt push the price up a bit. Reinforcement Things have gone a bit quiet on the iPhone 6 sapphire front, suggesting that Apple's upcoming handset(s) might miss out on the improved display. If it does, Huawei may beat it to the finishing line, however we're yet to hear anything on shipping dates so hold onto your horses. But with other Chinese titan Xiaomi rumoured to be considering a sapphire phone of its own, Huawei might want to get this one out the gate as soon as possible. IFA 2014: what to expect TechRadar Deals: The best Samsung Galaxy Alpha deals Aug 26th 2014, 11:00, by TechRadar Samsung has finally delivered the premium handset we've all been waiting for and while you'll have to wait a little bit longer for our review it's already available to buy. There aren't many deals for the Galaxy Alpha just yet, but we've dug up some of the best around. First up we've got a recommended deal, which offers a good mix of price and allowances. We've also found a great deal for data. It's not the cheapest around but if you plan to browse, stream and download a lot on the move it's likely to suit you. Finally we've dug up one of the cheapest deals. It doesn't have amazing allowances but if you're on a tight budget then it's worth considering. So settle down and read on for some early bird Samsung Galaxy Alpha offers. Recommended Samsung Galaxy Alpha deal If you want to get the Samsung Galaxy Alpha with some reasonable data, text and minutes allowances without shelling out a fortune each month this is the deal for you. It's currently available from MobilePhonesDirect in silver on a Vodafone contract with 1GB of 4G data (following three months of unlimited data), 600 minutes and unlimited texts. That will set you back £34.50 per month, but there's no upfront cost so over 24 months it's just £828, which isn't bad at all for a brand new flagship. Best Samsung Galaxy Alpha deal for data If 1GB of data won't cut it then consider this deal. It's from MobilePhonesDirect again and gets you the Samsung Galaxy Alpha in silver on T-Mobile with 500 minutes, unlimited 3G data and unlimited texts for £39.99 per month. There's no upfront cost so in all it's £959.76. Not the cheapest deal around then but it does come with unlimited data. Bear in mind though that you're only getting 3G data, while the deal above includes 4G data. Cheapest Samsung Galaxy Alpha deal If you just want the cheapest deal possible then you can grab the Samsung Galaxy Alpha in black from MobilePhonesDirect on a Vodafone contract for just £26.50 per month with no upfront cost. You only get 100 minutes, unlimited texts and 100MB of data (following three months of unlimited data), but then it only costs £636 over 24 months, which is remarkably cheap for such a new phone. Looking for a different phone? Check out the best overall phone deals of the week. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to have improved fingerprint scanner Aug 26th 2014, 10:25, by James Rogerson Samsung has included a fingerprint scanner on a number of devices since it debuted one on the Galaxy S5, so it's no surprise at all to hear that the Galaxy Note 4 will come with one as well, but this time it could be in for a few improvements. According to a 'credible source' speaking to SamMobile, the Galaxy Note 4 will use the Synaptics' Natural ID solution, just like the Galaxy S5 and the Galaxy Alpha. This means that to operate the scanner properly you'll have to swipe down from the lower part of the screen to the home button, a necessity which some users find counter intuitive and others still may not even be aware of, so it's perhaps not ideal. More positively the Note 4 apparently includes the four fingerprint scanning features from the Galaxy S5, specifically Screen Lock, Private Mode, Samsung Account Verification and PayPal Payments, but at least two new features may be inbound as well. Smart fingers First up there's 'Fingerprint Shortcuts', which allows you to assign a function or application to each registered fingerprint, so for example if you register one finger to open the browser then unlocking the phone with that one will take you straight to the browser rather than the home screen. Another new feature that's apparently coming to the Galaxy Note 4 is 'Web Sign-in', which allows you to sign in to websites that can remember passwords by swiping your finger over the home key, saving you from troublesome typing while remaining more secure than if you simply left sites signed in. It's feasible that these new features could also come to other Samsung devices as a software update at some point, so if you're rocking a Galaxy S5 you might benefit too. Can't wait for the Note 4? The Galaxy Note 3 is still a slick device. Fresh Moto G2 photos highlight bigger screen and camera boost Aug 26th 2014, 09:58, by James Rogerson It's looking like Motorola may have quite a few handsets in the works, but the Moto G2 is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated, given how well-liked the original Moto G was. It's expected that Motorola will announce the new handset at an event on September 4, but ahead of that a bunch of new shots supposedly showing it have been leaked by hellomotoHK and they've even created a teaser image which highlights the main differences between the Moto G and the Moto G2. As you can see from the teaser below, the screen size will apparently be jumping from 4.5 inches to 5.0 inches and the G2 will also benefit from narrower bezels, so the overall footprint might not be that much bigger. Upgraded It will apparently have an 8MP camera, replacing the 5MP one on the Moto G, front-facing stereo speakers and a microSD card slot, which in fairness the Moto G with 4G has anyway, but the original version doesn't. This information largely lines up with what we've already heard and previous rumours also suggest that it will have a 720p display, a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM, all of which is the same as the original Moto G. The new images show the front-facing speakers and otherwise look a lot like the original Moto G, complete with a curved, removable plastic back. Unfortunately while specs point to the G2 being an improvement over the Moto G, early price rumours also suggest that it will be more expensive, possibly coming in at around £200. Motorola is working on a smartwatch too. Spotify finally brings free streaming to Windows Phone Aug 26th 2014, 08:57, by Hugh Langley Lagging behind its iOS and Android counterparts, the Windows Phone Spotify app has finally opened up free streaming. Until now, Windows Phone users have only been able to stream through the app using a premium subscription, but now they can stream for free via shuffle play. However, as with the iOS and Android versions, you won't be able to listen to songs on-demand without opting for a paid subscription. Do the Windows shuffle You will, however, be able to shuffle your own music, playlists, and through artists' catalogues - all of which will include ads. Plus, you can use Spotify's 'Browse' feature which aims to deliver up a playlist to suit your current mood. Finally, Spotify has added some spit and polish to the search experience, improving search results and making it easier to browse through artists. If that all sounds good to you, you can go download the update from the Windows Phone Store right now. Best Windows Phone - which should you buy? LG G3 Stylus brings pen control, but it's no Galaxy Note 4 rival Aug 26th 2014, 08:30, by John McCann Details on the LG G3 Stylus have been officially unveiled by the Korean firm ahead of the handset's debut at IFA 2014. This isn't a high flying device to take on the likes of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 4, but rather a mid-range handset which LG claims will be available at a yet undisclosed, affordable price point. So what do you get? Well the G3 Stylus houses a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, 13MP rear camera and 1.3MP front snapper inside a body design it's inherited from the flagship LG G3. Compare that to the 2.5GHz quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, 13MP rear cam and 2.1MP front camera on the G3 and it's obvious the Stylus isn't in the same league. Big size, small specs The screen remains 5.5 inches in size, but the stunning QHD resolution has been replaced by a disappointingly low qHD (960 X 540) offering. That translates to a pixel density of just 200ppi (vs 534ppi on the G3), meaning it won't be the sharpest of displays. Of course you do get a stylus - made from 'Rubberdium' - and a suite of pen capable apps to encourage its use. Both the G3 and G3 Stylus also share Android 4.4 KitKat and LG's latest user interface - so it's not all bad news. In terms of availability the G3 Stylus looks to be directed at a certain type of market with LG confirming it will go on sale in Brazil first from September, followed by nations in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). There's no word yet on whether the G3 Stylus will make it to Europe, the US or Australia, but we have contacted LG for more information. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 release date, news and rumors Virgin, Qantas will let you keep your smartphone on in flight Aug 26th 2014, 00:29, by Farrha Khan Virgin Australia and Qantas have announced that they now have approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to allow customers to use their personal electronic devices 'gate-to-gate'. This means that customers will no longer need to turn off their smartphones and tablets - personal hand-held electronic devices weighing less than 1kg - during all phases of their flight, including take-off and landing. Any devices heavier than 1kg, including laptops, will need to be stowed away for takeoff and landing. Staying connected The approval has been granted starting from this morning for Virgin Australia, while Qantas customers will need to wait until 3pm before they can begin flying with their phones still on. "We know that a significant proportion of our customers travel with at least one smartphone or tablet, which demonstrates how valuable gate-to-gate access is to their overall travel experience," said Virgin Australia Chief Customer Officer Mark Hassell. Qantas' approval covers all domestic and international flights, while Virgin Australia's approval covers all domestic flights and some short-haul international services on its Boeing 737, Embraer E190 and Airbus A330 planes. Those on Virgin Australia's regional ATR 72 turboprops and long-haul international Boeing 777-300ERs will still need to turn their phones and tablets off. QantasLink, Jetstar and Virgin Australia New Zealand planes are not approved either. Testing, testing Virgin Australia has said that its other aircraft will require further testing and approval, while Qantas has said that it has conducted "rigorous testing to assess the impacts of electronic devices on the safe operation of aircraft." Customers will still be required to listen to pre-flight safety briefing, and phones, tablets or any other devices with transmitting signals will need to be switched to "flight mode" - so you still won't be able to make calls or connect to the internet. It should be noted, however, that Telstra has been working to give customers in-flight 4G with what it is calling its Skinet network. The new approvals might also mean that Qantas may trial in-flight Wi-Fi again, though it had cancelled its initial trials back in 2012. Here's more on Telstra's Skinet Huawei on why it won't use Tizen: It has 'no chance to be successful' Aug 25th 2014, 19:00, by klee Samsung's self-made Tizen operating system for smartphones isn't looking too hot with repeated delays, and now at least one phone maker is just saying "no" to the OS. Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, called Tizen a hopeless platform with "no chance to be successful" in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. He said the company has "no plans to use Tizen," as if that wasn't clear. Yu also explained it's difficult even for the Chinese company to turn a profit with Windows Phone products. The Huawei executive said it's hard to market devices running Microsoft's OS, and noted the company lost money trying to push Windows handsets during the course of two years. Huawei, once one of Tizen's original supporters, now joins the growing group of phone manufacturers and networks turning away from Samsung's platform. Yet despite the deserters and Huawei's harsh words, there are still a number of companies - including Intel, LG and Vodafone - holding out hope that the Android-alternative will release one day. Android armada The biggest problem Tizen faces is the fact that there aren't enough apps on the platform compared to the extensive software libraries developed for Android and iOS. Previously, Yu has also explained why Firefox's mobile OS may not be everything it's cracked up to be. It's for these same reasons Yu said Huawei isn't developing its own mobile operating system. With this in mind it seems the mobile world will continue to be split between Android and iOS while Windows Phone perpetually sits on the sidelines. Not that Yu is completely satisfied with this set-up. "We have worries about Android being the only option, but we have no choice," he remarked. "And we have a good collaboration with Google." It doesn't run Tizen but the Samsung Galaxy S5 is one heck of an Android phone

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