Samsung Galaxy S4 tips and tricks

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is destined to become one of the most popular phones of the year. It’s also one of the best.

Samsung has packed the phone so tight with features that it’s tricky to find them all. That’s why we’ve spent hours delving into its dark places to find the best bits.

Interface

How to set a default home screen
The Samsung Galaxy S4 lets you have up to seven home screens, however there will always be just the one that is your “default” home screen. This is the screen your phone will head to when you awaken from sleep or skip from the apps menu to the home screen.

To pick your default home screen, pinch inward with a two-finger gesture on a home screen to zoom out and see all your current home pages. On top of each one is a little house symbol. Tap the symbol on the screen you want to be your default to select it.



How to add and remove home screens

When in the zoomed-out home screen view, you can also add and delete home screens. Hold a finger down on one of the little thumbnails until you feel a little haptic blip and drag it to the “remove” dustbin up at the top of the screen.

If you have less than seven current home screens you will also see an empty home screen placeholder with a “plus” sign on it. Tap this to add a new blank home screen.

How to add widgets to a home screen

As with virtually any Android phone, to add widgets to a home screen you just need to hold a finger down on an empty bit of home screen until a menu pops-up. One of the options within the menu is “apps and widgets”. Tap on it and you’ll be taken to the apps/widgets menu.

Hold a finger down on a widget to add it to a home screen. Alternatively, from the apps menu you can head right into the widgets section using the tab up top.

Using and customising Air View
Air View is a very clever application of capacitive screen technology. It lets you interact with your Galaxy S4 without even touching it. For example, you can hover a finger over a web page to get a magnified view of what you’re pointing at.

There are four types of Air View functionality and you can switch them on and off in the Air View submenu that you’ll find in the My Device tab of Settings.

How to take a screenshot

Indispensable to some, useless to others, the Samsung Galaxy S4 offers a screenshot function. Just press and hold the power and select buttons at the same time until the screen flashes, and an image of what’s on-screen will be saved to your phone’s gallery.

How to kill TouchWiz without a hack

If you root your phone, you can install a completely different version of Android on it. But it’s not something we recommend for beginners. If you don’t get on with the Samsung interface, there’s a much easier way to change things.

What you need is a Launcher app from Google Play. This slaps a new interface on the phone – and you can turn it back within the Settings menu. Top launcher apps to try include Smart Launcher, Next Launcher and Action Launcher.

Connectivity

To 4G or not to 4G?
The Samsung Galaxy S4 has 4G connectivity, but is it worth using? At present, the outlay is hard to justify. EE is the only network that offers 4G connectivity at the time of writing, and there are significant core issues with the plans it offers.

To get a plan that has enough of a mobile data allowance to make 4G worthwhile is extremely expensive. 8GB a month costs £56 p/m and 20GB is £76. In our opinion, 1GB data (£41/month) is just too little to justify 4G speed. Prices will come down once more carriers get involved later this year.

Using NFC – what is it good for?

The Galaxy S4 is one of a growing number of phones with NFC, near-field communication. It has a few key uses – the most exciting being mobile payments. However, this only works in a handful of high street shops (it’s used primarily for low-cost purchases too).

Realising this, Samsung has put NFC to its own uses. S Beam is Samsung’s own connection standard that melds NFC and Wi-Fi Direct to make transferring items between compatible phones devices easy and quick. You’ll find the NFC menu toward the bottom of the Connections tab in Settings.

Using Wi-Fi Direct

Wi-Fi Direct is a kind of Wi-Fi connection that doesn’t require a connection to a router – letting you transfer files between Wi-Fi Direct devices without actually having any internet connectivity. Wi-Fi Direct has been embedded across the Touchwiz in the Galaxy S4. You’ll find it in the Share options of the photo gallery, for example. It looks just like a Wi-Fi symbol.

What is DLNA?

If you look through the Connections part of the Galaxy S4’s Settings menu you’ll find mention of “sharing over DLNA”, but little talk of what it actually is. DLNA is a communications standard that uses Wi-Fi to transfer media files between devices using Samsung’s AllShare media streaming tech. So if you want to send video, audio or photos to a TV wirelessly and you don’t have a Samsung TV, this is the option you want. Of course, your TV (or other media device) will need to be connected to Wi-Fi and support DLNA.

What is Kies? Do I need it?

Kies is Samsung’s desktop sync software, the equivalent of iTunes. The neat part is that you can use it to wirelessly sync files over your home network.

Should you use it? We don’t. The Samsung Galaxy S4’s internal storage shows up as a media disk drive when plugged into a computer, so it’s not necessary. And it’s not all that good either.

Notifications

Get rid of the annoying Samsung “whistle”
One of the dead giveaways that you’re using a Samsung Galaxy phone is the irritating “whistle” notification tone that accompanies text message alerts by default. Why not be different, and less annoying, by changing to something less predictable?

You’ll find the options to alter this under “default notification sound” in the Sound submenu of Settings.

Customising your notifications panel shortcuts
The Samsung Galaxy S4 gives you masses of control over which quick power options are accessible from the standard pull-down Android notifications menu. You can have up to five toggles for phone features in the bar – for things like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

To choose which ones you want to put in the limelight, tap the icon in the top-right of the notifications bar. This gives you the full power toggle selection. Then tap the pencil button up top to customise where these all sit. Drag up your favourites to the top to put them at your fingertips.

Set blocking mode for a good night’s sleep

There are few things that are as annoying as being awoken by a bleating phone just as you’re nodding off. Blocking mode is here to stop that from happening. It lets you stop your Galaxy S4 from alerting you with notifications, calls, alarms and the LED indicator during certain times (which you set).

However, you can also set certain “golden contacts” that can get through to you at all times. The locking mode has its own menu within the My Device tab of Settings.

Customising what the LED indicator does

There’s a multi-colour LED indicator hidden behind the white front fascia of the Galaxy S4, and you can choose what it lights-up for. It has its own sub menu within the My Device tab of Settings. In it you’ll find tick boxes to enable/disable indicators for charging, low battery, notifications and voice recording. The charging indicator is the one you’re most likely to want to turn off.

Phone calls and Contacts

Auto rejection
Have a bug-a-boo stalking you? The Samsung Galaxy S4 can be setup to automatically reject their calls. You can maintain a whole list of people to reject if you like.

To start up this list, go to the My Device tab of the Settings menu, tap Call, Call Rejection, then Auto Reject List. Here is where you pick your rejection numbers. You can also setup messages to send to “rejected” people who try to call you.

Personalised ringtones

Individual ringtones are setup not within the Call menu, but the contacts list. Tap on one of your contacts and in the menu you’ll find options to set specific message tones and ringtones. There’s a list of preset ones but you can also pick another sound from within your music apps (just tap “Add” at the bottom of the ringtone selection menu.)

Tackling robot auto dialler machines

The Samsung Galaxy S4 has a few tricks up its sleeve to help you tackle those super-annoying automated robot voice dialler setups – such as when you call the bank.

When tapping in a phone number, you can insert pauses to avoid having to wait for the system to witter on with the phone next to your ear. Press the menu button while dialling and you can add a 2-sec pause (they can be stacked). Of course, you need to know the system pretty well before this feature will be of much use.



How to get your contacts filled up

Using an Android phone, it’s easy to get your Android-stored contacts restored to a new phone. However, if that’s not enough you can also use social network apps to get your contacts book filled up with info.

The days of having to write numbers down in a notepad are long, long gone. Download the Facebook and Twitter apps (if you’re on those networks) and you’ll be prompted to add contacts info from them to your Galaxy S4’s contacts section.

Browsing and data

Monitor data usage
One native Android 4.2 feature that has stuck in the Galaxy S4 is the data usage monitor. You’ll find it near the top of the Connections tab in Settings. It shows you the data you’ve used over the last month in a graph, and tells you what apps have used the most data.

You can set your own mobile data limit, and make the phone disconnect mobile data once it’s used up, in order to avoid any annoying extras charges on your mobile bill.

Request Desktop Mode is a must

The Samsung web browser has a mode that forces the phone to view the desktop version of a website rather than the mobile one. In most cases, the desktop version will work better unless you have poor vision.

Five inches and 1080p resolution is more than enough for mobile websites. You’ll find the Desktop view tickbox in the Settings menu, which is accessed by pressing the menu soft key when in the browser.

Best Apps and Games

Top show-off games
Want to show off the raw power of your Galaxy S4? The best way to do so is with a high-end game. Our top recommendations include Real Racing 3, Dead Trigger and Riptide GP. The first two are free – the latter costs £1.39.

Essential Apps
After Samsung packed the Galaxy S4 with so many inbuilt features, you may not need to head straight to the Google Play app store. However, apps we found we couldn’t do without include Spotify, Netflix, TuneInRadio, BBC iPlayer and BBC iPlayer Radio. And of course, the Twitter/Facebook apps. Alternatively check out our list of the best apps .

Fun Free Games
A forte of Android is free games. Some games you have to pay for on iOS are free on Android. Top picks include Angry Birds, Angry Birds Space and the rest – but you probably know those already. Others to check out include Hill Climb Racing, Candy Crush Saga, Real Racing 3, Whale Trail Frenzy and Temple Run 2.

How to delete apps
Most of you may know this already, but you can’t simply delete apps from your apps menu – holding a finger down on one just sends it to a home screen.

To get rid of an app, you need to do so from the Applications Manager of the Settings menu. It’s under the More tab. Tap on an app’s entry here and you’ll find an uninstall option, as long as it’s not a pre-installed app you can’t get rid of.

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Google Glass will soon display messages, directions without Android app

The Google Glass Explorer units currently in the hands of a select number of folks will soon give iPhone users greater access to the device's key features, according to a report on Friday.

Presently, if users wish to read messages and view walking directions within their eyeline, they need to be tethered to the internet connection of an Android phone that has the Glass companion app installed.

iPhone users are currently excluded from accessing this functionality, which just happens to be one of the wearable device's key selling points.

However, according to a TechCrunch report, the Glass headset will soon be able to operate independently of the companion app and will not require the smartphone to act as a go between in many cases

This means iPhone users tethering their device to the smartphone won't need the companion app to do the heavy lifting for them. And, if they're using a public Wi-Fi hotspot, they may not need the smartphone at all.

Frederic Lardinois of TechCrunch wrote in his report on Friday: "To use text messaging and navigation on Google Glass, users currently have to pair it with an Android phone and install the Glass companion app on their phones. This will change very soon, however, one of the Google representatives in its New York office told me when I picked up my own unit yesterday afternoon. Glass, the Google employee told me, will soon be able to handle these features independent of the device the user has paired it to (and maybe even independent of the Glass companion app)."

Engadget points out that Glass users may still need to bring in GPS data from a synced handset as the Google Glass headset does not have a separate GPS receiver in its current iteration.

This may change by the time the device goes on sale to consumers, either late next year or early next year.

Via: TechCrunch

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Spotify buys a music discovery start-up of its own to counter Twitter #Music

Perhaps aware of the incoming challenge from Twitter's new #Music application, Spotify has splashed out on an existing music discovery service native to its homeland.

The company has acquired Swedish company Tunigo, which provides a music discovery app within Spotify and also has an iPhone app, both of which will stay alive following the deal.

Tunigo works by collating playlists from its editorial teams and its user base, to help folks find new music they're interested in listening to, while focusing on theme and mood-based playlists.

While Spotify offers an almost unparalleled library, market leading status and a powerful grasp on the desktop and mobile market, the means of finding new tunes does leave a little to be desired.

The company's open app platform does help, but this acquisition suggests Spotify will be folding Tunigo's functionality into its own offering as a means of boosting recommendations for its ever growing user base.

Spotify's move comes just a couple of weeks after Twitter launched its own #Music app for iOS and the web.

The social network's foray into the music business is powered by We The Hunted , which itself was a Spotify application until it was bought up by Twitter before the turn of the year.

Twitter's service focuses on artists trending, emerging artists, suggested artists and acts your friends are listening to.

That service hasn't exactly inspired rave reviews, but it's still early days and there's plenty of time for it to gain traction.

Via AllThingsD

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BlackBerry Q10 ‘selling extremely well’ in UK and Canada says analyst

The BlackBerry Q10 is said to be selling well in Canada and the UK according to industry analysts.

Launched last Friday April 26, the full QWERTY keyboard BlackBerry Q10 smartphone “has been selling extremely well” in the British and Canadian markets.

The second smartphone to run BlackBerry’s new BlackBerry 10 OS after the flagship BlackBerry Z10, but the BlackBerry Q10 is thought to appeal to loyal BlackBerry fans due to its physical keyboard.

“Our checks indicate broad sell-outs with generally limited stock otherwise,” said Jeffries bank analyst Pete Misek. “Based on our store checks, the BlackBerry Q10 has been selling extremely well and has been sold out or seeing limited availability in Toronto and across the UK.”

BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins has already predicted that the BlackBerry Q10 will sell “tens of millions” of units due to the sheer amount of early interest in the handset.

“We have very, very good first signs already after the launch in the UK,” said Heins. “This is going into the installed base of more than 70 million BlackBerry users so we have quite some expectations. We expect several tens of millions of units.”

The BlackBerry Q10 went on sale exclusively at Selfridges in the UK at first, where it became Selfridges fastest selling gadget with initial stock selling out across the three stores in 2 hours.

“The BlackBerry Q10 has been, without a doubt, the most highly antipated smartphone we ahv ever sold and is already our most successful,” said Julian Slim, Selfridges’ Head of Home and Leisure. “The BlackBerry Q10 blends the power of the BlackBerry 10 platform with the hugely successful BlackBerry physical QWERTY keyboard and is a perfect combination for BlackBerry customers.”

Following the three-day exclusivity at Selfridges, the BlackBerry Q10 was made available to a selection of British smartphone retailers and UK network providers.

Building on the past success of physical QWERTY BlackBerry handsets, the BlackBerry Q10 has a 1.5GHz dual-core processor with 2GB of RAM, 3.1-inch touchscreen display, a 2100mAh Lithium-Ion battery and 16GB of internal storage expandable via microSD.

Not sure what phone is best? Check out our best mobile phones 2013 roundup.


Via: Reuters

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Acer Iconia A1 revealed as iPad Mini rival

Acer has launched its first 7.9-inch tablet, the Acer Iconia A1, that looks set to be a reasonably price iPad mini Android alternative.

The slim Acer Iconia A1 has a 1.2Ghz quad-core processor and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on its 7.9 inch 1024 x 768p resolution display.

“Tablets are becoming cherished companions to many people as they stay connected and entertained throughout the day,” said Oliver Ahrens, President of Acer Europe. “We want everyone to experience that.”

“Everything that makes tablets so enjoyable is even better on the perfectly-sized Acer Iconia A1. The design is comfortable to hold, while sleek build make it a natural extension for anyone who wants to keep their digital life right in one hand.”

Acer Iconia A1 Features

The Acer Iconia A1 is the company’s first 7.9-inch tablet, with the LED IPS screen offering a 170-degree viewing angle and 1024 x 768p resolution. Powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, the Acer Iconia A1 runs the latest version of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS.

Offering a 5-megapixel camera in the rear, the Acer Iconia A1 is capable of capturing Full 1080p HD video at a rate of 30 fps. Shipping with internal storage options of 8GB or 16GB, this can be expanded via the microSD card slot that supports memory cards up to 32GB, useful for those Full HD videos.

Unlike its size rival, the iPad mini, the Acer Iconia A1 has a USB 2.0 and microHDMI port for a swift transferal of digital content and offers extended connectivity options.

With an average 7-hour battery life, the Acer Iconia A1 is 11.1mm thick and weighs 410g. In comparison to the iPad mini, the Acer Iconia A1 is heavier and chunkier than Apple’s 7.9-inch tablet, which weighs 308g and is just 7.2mm in depth.

GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity is built into the Acer Iconia A1, and the tablet will ship in Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi and 3G options.

The new Acer Iconia A1 also plays host to the company’s news Acer Touch WakeApp gesture, which allows users one-touch access to their favourite app immediately after the tablet wakes up. We’re not quite sure what this means as yet, but look out for our Acer Iconia A1 hands-on later today.



Acer Iconia A1 Release Date and Price

The Acer Iconia A1 will be released as two models. The first, the Acer Iconia A1-810 is the Wi-Fi only option costing €169 (£143) and will be available from the end of May. The Acer Iconia A1-811 is the 3G and Wi-Fi option available from the end of July with a €219 (£185) price tag.



Still prefer the look of the iPad mini? Check out our iPad mini vs Google Nexus 7 comparison to make sure.

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Samsung Knox security software approved by US Department of Defence

Samsung has revealed that its Samsung Knox security software has been approved by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for use in the American government.

Currently the only Samsung device to feature Samsung Knox, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has been officially approved for use by US government and military officials within its DoD networks.

To gain such approval, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Knox software had to meet the requirements of one of the highest security standards in the world for mobile operating systems.

The tests are so strict that this is the first time any Android OS device has met the demanding requirements.

“We are very pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Defense has approved Samsung Knox-enabled devices for us in DoD networks,” said JK Shin, President of Samsung. “This approval enables other government agencies and regulated industries such as health care and financial services to adopt Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets. This is a significant milestone for Samsung as we work to grow our relationships within government ad large corporate enterprises.”

Described as a “comprehensive enterprise mobile solution for work and play”, Samsung Knox ensures security for Android devices from apps to hardware. Samsung Knox is accessible through a dedicated homescreen app and offers separate business and personal use of the Samsung Galaxy S4.

“Samsung Knox delivers fundamental security at the platform level, while leaving the user experience consistent,” said Samsung’s Senior Vice President and Head of the B2B R&D Group Injong Rhee. “Samsung Galaxy devices powered by Samsung Knox are highly secure mobile devices.”

Future Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets are planned to include Samsung Knox, so the US government won’t be limited to the Samsung Galaxy S4 in the future.

The South Korean company is also looking to certify Samsung Knox for use with other government bodies across the world.



Samsung may have marketed the wrong Samsung Galaxy S4 features. Find out why in our feature.

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Google Now doesn’t drain battery life says Google

Since Google Now arrived on iOS earlier this week, some users have complained the Google Search app addition is a huge drain on their handset battery life.

Due to Google Now’s access to the location data, some users say they have noticed a significant effect on battery life since installing the Google Search app update.

However, Google has released an official statement denying Google Now has any effect on iPhone battery.

“Reports that Google Now drains battery life are incorrect,” said Google in a statement. “We understand people’s concern about seeing the Location Services icon stay on when they use Google Now. Many apps that keep the icon on actually do drain the phone’s battery because they require very accurate location. (For example a navigation app has to run your GPS all the time to keep you from missing your turn.”

Launching as a new feature in the iOS Google Search app, Google Now is the search engine giant’s own voice controlled assistant that looks set to be a rival for Apple’s Siri.

“We extensively tested Google Now on iOS for months and didn’t see reports of significant battery impact – we would encourage you to try it in the Google Search app for a few days and we don’t expect you to see significant impact on your battery. If you are seeing a problem, please do tell us (just tap feedback in the app settings). We take user feedback very seriously.”

Originally an Android exclusive, Google Now is prized for its accuracy at providing data on the weather, local attractions, travel information in the form of Google Now cards.

Google further explained that Google Now is “built very differently” from other apps that hone in on the iPhone location services. The software uses “cell towers and Wi-Fi hotspots for much lower battery impact.”

Google’s annual conference is just around the corner, so here’s what to expect at Google I/O 2013.

Via: LifeHacker

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Google X Phone pictures leak online

Apparently legitimate pictures of the new Google X Phone handset in production by Google and Motorola have leaked online.

According to fairly reliable tipster @evleaks, the Google branded Motorola X Phone is currently codenamed Ghost, similar to the way the Google Nexus 4 was Mako and the Google Nexus 7 was Grouper.

From the leaked pictures you can’t actually see much of the handset’s body as the Google X Phone is hidden by a black non-disclosure case, but @evleaks’ sources confirm that the images are legitimate.

However, the blurred image of the rear of the Google X Phone (shown below) is said to be the official rear panel used for the device. Apparently made from polycarbonate, the rear isn’t Motorola’s usual Kevlar choice, as with the Motorola Razr HD, or even the glass used for the Google Nexus 4.

The label on the back of the phone is practically illegible, but lists the device’s model number as “XFON ATT”. The sources confirm that the Google X Phone will be released on American network providers AT&T and Verizon as well as all major carriers worldwide.

Tipped to launch without the Motorola branding seen on this prototype, the Google X Phone may reach store shelves sooner than expected. According to the sources, a Google X Phone release date is supposedly scheduled for early July, rather than the previously rumoured August or later launch.

Although the sources were unable to confirm an accurate screen size, they said it looks to be a 4.7-inch display that will eventually have Full 1080p HD resolutions, 32GB of internal storage and 2GB of RAM.

In March, Google X Phone specs leaked online offering similar screen specifications, but also tipping the handset to run on Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie on a quad-core Tegra 4i processor.

With a 16-megpixel camera in the rear and 5-megapixels up front, the Google X Phone could also be just 7.9mm thick.

Are you a Google fan? Get the most out of your handset with our Google Nexus 4 tips and tricks.



Via: PhoneArena

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Sony confirms June 10 PS4 E3 briefing, same day as Microsoft

Sony has confirmed that it will be holding a PS4 press conference on June 10 at the annual E3 gaming conference.

Taking place at 6pm Pacific Time, many are speculating that Sony will use the E3 briefing to detail the company’s plans for the PS4, perhaps even unveiling what the console actually looks like.

PlayStation fans can expect to see plenty of new PS4 content, potentially including gameplay footage of upcoming PlayStation exclusives like Beyond: Two Souls and The Last of Us.

Microsoft has already sent out press invites to its pre-E3 Xbox event that takes place on the same day as Sony’s briefing. However, Microsoft’s is at 10am Pacific Time so it’s managed to sneak in before its next-gen console rival.

Like Sony, Microsoft will be most likely use the E3 press conference to showcase its new hardware, after the initial new Xbox 720 reveal on May 21.

“[On May 21] we’ll hsare our vision for Xbox, and give you a real taste of the future. Then, 19-days later at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is Los Angeles, we’ll continue the conversation and showcase our full lineup of blockbuster games,” said Xbox Live’s Director of Programming, Larry Hyrb, better known by his Xbox Live gametag “Major Nelson”.

Sony has already revealed its next-generation PS4 console at a dedicated event back in February. It revealed that the console will pack an eight-core x86-64 AMD Jaguar CPU with 8GB of GGDR5 RAM, making the console more like a high-powered gaming PC than current gen games consoles.

“There’s plenty of time, we’ve got lots of information yet to give out on PlayStation 4,” said Michael Denny, Video President of Sony Worldwide Studios. “The initial announcement phase that we’re in now is just to explain the vision to everybody.”

“Part of that vision is we have created a console absolutely focused on games – and we want that to be gamers in the broadest sense as well.”

The PS4 will also ship with the new DualShock 4 controller that introduces a share button for social media integration and a touch panel similar to the rear trackpad of the PS Vita between the analogue sticks. A new LED light-bar at the front of the controller also allows the PS4 to track players in the room and adjust the playing screen accordingly.

Via: CVG

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Google hires Chief Game Designer for Android

Google has hired veteran video games designer Noah Falstein, seemingly to work on the Android platform.

TechCrunch has uncovered the fact from Falstein's LinkedIn page, which suggests he began employment as Google's first Chief Game Designer in April.

Even more intriguingly, an earlier, cached version of this same LinkedIn profile features Falstein's job title as “Chief Game Designer at Android Play Studio.”

This seems to be the first anyone has heard of an Android Play Studio, but it suggests that Google has big things planned in the field of mobile gaming.

It was discovered last month that Google was developing its own take on Apple's Game Center, which will create a hub for multiplayer gaming, global leaderboards, in-game chat and achievements.

Insert Credits

Falstein's role suggests that Google might have even bigger plans in the gaming space. Here is a man, after all, who has worked for the now sadly defunct LucasArts during their golden period, helping to designing the acclaimed point and click adventure Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.

In more recent times, Falstein has worked as a video game consultant. Another interesting area of expertise of his, according to his bio, lies in "adding game techniques and structure to commercial and educational titles" - or as the term has come to be known, 'gamification.'

Could Google be planning to gamify some of Android's interface elements? Does this have anything to do with Google Glass and its potentially revolutionary augmented reality components? Or could it be related to the company's work on Super Sync Sports (pictured)?

We don't know. One thing's for sure, though - Google has turned its considerable attention and resources to gaming. Watch out Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft - and of course Apple.

If you want a top-range Android phone for gaming, take a look at our updated Best Mobile Phones 2013 list.

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Apple launches competition as iOS App Store nears 50 billion downloads

Apple's iOS App Store is nearing a major landmark of 50 billion apps downloaded, prompting the company to launch a giveaway competition.

After just shy of five years of existence, App Store sales are closing in on the magic 50 billion mark.

To place this figure into some context, Android's Google Play Store only broke through the 25 billion app downloads mark in September of last year.

Head on over to the iTunes section of Apple's website and you'll notice a little banner at the bottom of the page reading "Thanks to you, we're about to hit 50 billion app downloads," followed by a representative ticker rapidly counting its way up to the target figure. At the time of writing, it's around 769 million shy, so there's still some way to go.

App Store Competition Entry and Prizes

Click on the aforementioned banner and you'll be taken to a page outlining the related competition. In the spirit of celebration - and in order to sell a few million more apps, no doubt - Apple is offering a $10,000 App Store gift card to the 50 billionth customer.

That's a whole lot of Temple Run clones - or several in-app purchases, depending on how you want to look at it.

The prizes don't end there. The following 50 customers will each received a $500 App Store gift card.

In an unusually generous move on Apple's part, you can even enter the competition without purchasing anything. All you need to do is fill in an online entry form, which is linked to from the competition web page.

If you're wondering whether to get on board with Apple or try out the best that Android has to offer, check out our Samsung Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5 infographic.

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Call of Duty: Ghosts is Amazon's best-selling game, 6 months before release

Just 24 hours after Activision officially unveiled Call of Duty: Ghosts, pre-orders for the game have seen it soar straight to the top of the charts on Amazon.

The game will not be shipped until November 5th this year, but that hasn't stopped thousands of eager gamers putting their orders in six months early.

In the UK the game is currently occupying the number one and number two spot in the gaming chart for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions respectively.

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, the game sits in third place behind Xbox Live and PSN memberships, which still makes it the best-selling video game overall.

It's top of the Xbox games chart and second in the PS3 category behind Bioshock Infinite, according to Slashgear's report.

The company will showcase game footage for the first time at Microsoft's big new Xbox reveal on May 21st so pre-order sales will surely surge further once the world knows more than just the title, release date and the slightest hint of a plot.

During its announcement on Wednesday, Activision confirmed that the game will appear on "next generation platforms" including the PlayStation 4 and whatever form Microsoft's next console will take.

We can't wait to see what developer Infinity Ward has to offer on May 21. That Xbox event is shaping up to be the tech event of the year.

Via Slashgear

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Instagram adds 'Photos of you' tagging feature for iPhone and Android apps

Instagram has introduced a new version of its photo sharing app for iPhone and Android, which allows users to tag themselves or friends in picture uploads.

The new app features a 'Photos of You' section which feature pictures you've tagged yourself in and those you've been tagged in by other users.

The Facebook-owned company has added a new aspect to the upload process, facilitating photo-tagging.

The previous versions of the app have allowed users to mention their friends username in photo captions - which sends a notification to the app - but those pictures have stayed within the photo stream of the uploader.

Now, Instagram says, tagging friends is as easy as adding captions and hashtags to photos and offers a new way 'to bring the new stories behind photos to life'.

Photos that have been tagged will now feature a Facebook like speech bubble identifying the person by the username associated with the account

In a post on the company blog, Instagram wrote: "Today, we’re excited to introduce Photos of You and bring you a new way to share and discover stories on Instagram. When you upload a photo to Instagram, you’re now able to add people as easily as you add hashtags. Only you can add people to your photos, so you have control over the images you share. And it doesn’t stop at people—you can add any account on Instagram, whether it’s your best friend, favorite coffee shop or even that adorable dog you follow.

"There will now be a Photos of You section on your profile. When someone adds you to a photo, you’ll receive a notification and the photo will appear in your Photos of You. Want to make sure you like the photo first? No problem: you can easily adjust your settings so nothing appears on your profile until you approve it. Before your Photos of You section is visible to other people, you’ll have until May 16th to play around and get used to the feature. You can find more information about how Photos of You works and how to control your visibility at help.instagram.com."

The new versions of Instagram are available to download from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store from today.

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Google files smartwatch patent with Google Glass touchpad panels

Google has submitted a patent application for a smartwatch that includes two trackpads similar to that featured in Google Glass.

The search engine giant has been rumoured to be working on a smartwatch for a while, but this latest patent application submitted to the United States Patent Office (USPO) details a timepiece that features a touchpad either side of the watch face.

Featuring “a first touchpad located on a first side of the base” and “a second touchpad located on a second side of the base opposite the first side”, Google’s smartwatch could be an innovative invention.

It seems much more practical to have touchpads that allow interaction with the smartwatch features without actually having to touch the face and therefore obscure the display.

The patents outlines that the two trackpads would “support touchpad functions including, but not limited to, pinch, stretch and scroll on a platform with limited space available for user input” for communication with “a voltage line, a data line, and a clock line”.

Of course, this vague wording means that the Google smartwatch could connect to other devices too, including Android smartphones like the search engine giant’s own Google Nexus 4.

We’re expecting a Google smartwatch to include a wide range of Google apps including Gmail, Google Maps and Google Calendar, and if Google Glass’ voice activation plays a part we could see the upcoming Google Babel messaging client make an appearance.

The trackpads could pose a bit of an issue if there was no simple way to temporarily disable them when not in use, but if the touchpad on Google Glass is used as the basis for their design, the smartwatch should prove to be fairly intuitive.

The company’s previous Google smartwatch patent outlined a device with a transparent cover atop the face that could be raised to act as a transparent display. However, this latest iteration seems much more likely and user friendly than the last.

Apple, Microsoft and Samsung are all rumoured to be working on their own smartwatch concepts, but details including any smartwatch release dates are still unknown.

Are smartwatches a fad or the future? Read our opinion piece to find out what we think.



Via: Engadget

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HTC Q1 net profit drops 98 per cent, HTC One sales expected to boost Q2

The HTC One launched too late to help HTC’s financial situation as the Taiwanese company posts a net profit drop of 98 per cent for the first quarter of 2013.

Falling from last year’s NT$4.5 billion (£97 million) to NT$85 million (£1.8 million) for Q1 2013, HTC’s net profit plummeted 98 per cent. The Taiwanese company also experienced its lowest quarterly profit since 2004 and saw its revenue drop to NT$42.8 billion (£931 million) from NT$67.8 billion (£1.47 billion) for the same time last year.

However, the original HTC One release date was plagued by delays due to unprecedented demand for the flagship smartphone and sourcing issues for UltraPixel camera components.

The HTC One has already received much critical acclaim – we gave it an impressive 9/10 – due to its attractive metal body, 4.7-inch Full 1080 x 1920p HD display and new HTC Sense 5.0 UI. After a successful launch, HTC has now ironed out any supply issues and is confident its flagship will improve Q2 2013 profits.

“Last year we thought we needed to inject some new excitement in HTC’s products, and there was an opportunity for us… because everybody looks the same,” said Peter Chou, HTC CEO, during the earnings call. “I think that we have successfully launched the HTC One. We believe people are really getting our concept.”

HTC hasn’t revealed how many HTC One handsets have been sold so far, but analysts estimate the Taiwanese company will ship 3.5 million HTC One smartphones in the second quarter of 2013. In fact, CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets analyst CK Cheng believes 10 million will ship in total this year, but Samsung Galaxy S4 shipments are predicted to reach 60 million.

“HTC continues to be squeezed between Apple and Samsung at the high-end and an abundance of other handsets in a heavily congested mid-tier,” said Geoff Blaber, Director of Devices and Platforms at CCS Insight. “HTC desperately needs the HTC One to be a hit in order to drive sales, margin and create a halo effect for the broader portfolio.”

“HTC will hope the HTC One launch will provide renewed impetus in 2Q13 and that it can swiftly overcome initial supply constraints.”

Happy with your HTC One? Make the most of it with our HTC One tips and tricks

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Unbreakable flexible display phones of no concern to case manufacturers

With a number of handset manufacturers known to be working on ‘unbreakable’ flexible display incorporating phones, case manufacturers have told TrustedReviews that they are not concerned by such devices eating into their profits.

A feature that would seemingly make the need for a costly protective case redundant, flexible, unbreakable display hosting handsets are currently in the works through the likes of Samsung and Apple, with LG promising to launch a flexible phone by the end of the year.

Not fazed by this impending dent to profits, however, leading case manufacturer Tech21 has suggested it welcomes the new technology and that there will always be a need for additional protection.

“Flexible displays would be a fantastic attribute to mobile technology, and we are all for advancements,” Jason Roberts, Founder and CEO of Tech21 said.

Looking for a silver lining he added: “If they do find a flexible display solution that is unbreakable, maybe then the casing that surrounds it will be the focus. There is always a need for impact protection and that’s what we do, we move with technology.”

With Samsung one of a number of manufacturers to have previously demonstrated their bendable display prototypes at the likes of CES and IFA, it has been claimed in recent days that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be the company’s first handset to feature a flexible screen.

According to claimed ‘insider sources’ a flexible display boasting Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is one of a trio of prototype designs currently being assessed for the handsets. The other two include an all new design and an adaptation of the Samsung Galaxy S4 form factor.

While flexible phones might not yet have launched, there are still a number of great handsets doing the rounds. Read our best phones feature to see the cream of the crop.

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Google Glass privacy risks discovered by hackers

Google Glass may present huge threats to the privacy of the wearer due to the lack of security features like a PIN code or authorization system.

Hackers could be able to take control of the Google Glass via a smartphone in their possession, allowing the cybercriminals to see and hear everything the Google Glass wearer is doing.

According to Jay Freeman, a programmer specialising in hacking Android and iOS smartphone security, Google Glass has a “root” functionality that can be activated by connecting it to a computer and inputting certain commands.

“Once the attacker has root on your Glass, they have much more power than if they had access to your phone or even your computer: they have control over a camera and a microphone that are attached to your head,” explains Freeman. “A bugged Glass doesn’t just watch your every move: it watches everything you are looking at (intentionally or furtively) and hears everything you do. The only thing it doesn’t know are your thoughts.”

The privacy of the Google Glass wearer would then be severely compromised, as the hacker could monitor all their activities.

“It knows all your passwords, for example, as it can watch as you type them. It even manages to monitor your usage of otherwise safe, old-fashioned technology: it watches you enter door codes, it takes pictures of your keys, and it records what you write using a pen and paper. Nothing is safe once your Glass has been hacked.”

However, Freeman suggest that a security system such as a PIN lock code or biometric authorization system using the voice or iris for Google Glass would prevent such privacy risks.

“Sadly, due to the way Glass is currently designed, it is particularly susceptible to the kinds of security issues that tend to plague Android devices. The one saving grace of Android’s track record on security is that most of the bugs people find in it cannot be exploited while the device is PIN-code locked. Google Glass, however, does not have any kind of PIN mechanism: when you turn it on, it is immediately available.”

With the current Google Glass Explorer Edition, Freeman estimates it would take a hacker 10 minutes to install the rooted version of the Google Glass software, enabling them to take remote control of the augmented reality device.

Google will have to fix these security issues before the general Google Glass release date, which is tipped to be at least a year away.

Still loving Google’s futuristic headgear? Watch our roundup of the best Google Glass videos.



Via: Guardian

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Microsoft Surface 2 could launch in June as 7-inch slate

The Microsoft Surface 2 could be unveiled in June as a 7-inch version of its Microsoft Surface Pro tablet at the company’s Build Developer Conference.

According to DigiTimes, Microsoft will use the Build Developer Conference to launch the second-generation Microsoft Surface tablets. However, what’s interesting is that the tablets will reportedly “only feature 7- to 9-inch displays” attempting to cash in on the smaller tablet market successfully broached by Apple with the iPad mini.

If the information is correct though, Microsoft could launch several varieties of the Microsoft Surface 2 tablet at the conference, which runs from June 26 – 28.

It had been previously rumoured that Microsoft is working on a 7-inch expansion to its Surface range, but the potential iPad mini and Google Nexus 7 could be joined by a 9-inch addition more akin to the size of the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9.

The sources come from the “upstream supply chain” and supposedly confirm Microsoft won’t be using the 7- or 9-inch version to replace the existing Microsoft Surface RT and Microsoft Surface Pro tablets. Instead the smaller form factors would just be used to compliment and expand upon the current range.

Shortly prior to the official Microsoft Surface launch last year, an Xbox Surface device emerged online. Taking this into consideration, the second-generation Microsoft Surface tablet could feature some kind of Xbox crossover.

The next Microsoft Surface has already been tipped to be game centric, and before the official new Xbox 720 unveiling was announced for May 21, Microsoft Supersite owner Paul Thurrott tipped that new Xbox features would be seen at the Microsoft Build Developer Conference.

Potentially then, we could see Microsoft introducing a PS Vita like compatibility between the Xbox 720 and the Microsoft Surface 2.

Other than the potential Microsoft Surface 2 launch, Microsoft’s Build Developer Conference will focus on the Windows 8.1 or codename Windows Blue update and its improved compatibility with 7-inch and 8-inch slates.

We decide whether Microsoft is backtracking with Windows 8.1 Blue.

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Nintendo Wii U price slashed to just £149

A new round of Nintendo Wii U price cuts have been kicked off by supermarket giant Asda, with the PS4 rival now costing just £149.

The second time the retailer has slashed the Nintendo Wii U price this year, Asda has cut a further £50 off the recently released console, making the PS3 and Xbox 360 challenger and full £100 cheaper than its original pricing at launch shortly before last year’s Christmas period.

Having suffered from continually low sales figures, the Nintendo Wii U Basic model is now priced £149, with the Premium edition console, which comes with an additional controller dock and a copy of the Nintendo Land game, setting wannabe owners back £199. Having originally launched at £299, the Premium console had previously been reduced to £249 back in May.

With Nintendo confirming earlier this week that it missed annual profit targets by 50 per cent, the company’s president, Satoru Iwata, suggested that slow Wii U sales have been caused by struggles communicating the benefits of the console to consumers.

"We have not been able to solidly communicate the product value of Wii U to our consumers yet, which has been a grand challenge for us," he said.

"Some have the misunderstanding that Wii U is just Wii with a pad for games, and others even consider Wii U GamePad as a peripheral device connectable to Wii. We feel deeply responsible for not having tried hard enough to have consumers understand the product."

With Nintendo Wii U price cuts having been called for shortly after launch following unexpectedly low sales, a number of retailers previously called for Nintendo to drop its hardware prices.

Speaking back in May Jonathan Hayes, Games Buying Manager at Tesco stated: “Wii U has not caught the public’s imagination yet. [We need] a big marketing push to clearly communicate what Wii U is all about.”

His comments were echoed by the founder of Xbite Nick Whitehead who added: “Both the machine and software prices are too high to compete. The price point needs looking at but this alone will not fix the issue.”

If you’ve been left disappointed by the Nintendo Wii U, take a look at our Xbox 720 rumours roundup to see what you can expect from Microsoft’s next-gen console.

Via: CVG

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The Cash Cow is Dying: Mobile networks face bleak future

I say I say I say, what’s the difference between a telecoms company and an ISP…? Nothing!

Technology jokes may not be the best, but in five to ten years everyone will understand this punchline. How we use our mobile phones is rapidly changing and in order to keep up mobile networks are being forced to spend billions shooting themselves in the foot.

WhatAppening

The latest evidence for this comes from research company Informa, which revealed this week that use of instant messaging apps has overtaken SMS for the first time. According to its data nearly 19 billion messages were sent per day on chat apps in 2012, compared with 17.6bn SMS.

Interestingly this research is also half baked. Informa only took WhatsApp, BlackBerry Messenger, Viber, Nimbuzz, Apple iMessage and KakaoTalk into account leaving out arguably the two biggest: Facebook Messenger and China’s dominant TenCent service.

So SMS is losing, but at over 20 years old it should be losing. What’s more interesting is the bigger picture. People don’t prefer apps over SMS, they prefer data over everything else.



Megabytes not mega minutes

Data is the revolution mobile networks are forced to inflict upon themselves. Their heyday was the 2G era when the number of cross network minutes and SMS was the defining element of your contract. What they didn’t see was the danger in 3G.

In spending an astonishing £22bn on 3G licenses in 2000 UK telcos, like telcos around the world, thought they were opening themselves up to a lucrative new world of restricted content portals, MMS messaging and video calls. In reality 3G bred the smartphone, which opened up the web and bred the "app store".

Mobile networks tried to fight back. Network-specific app stores were pre-installed on handsets to try and grab a slice of their revenue and Orange and O2 famously vetoed the Nokia N97 because it dared to integrate Skype into the main dialler. Even now truly unlimited data contracts are resisted by most networks for fear the higher quality, geography-free nature of VoIP will take off like messaging apps. Whatever their self serving attempts, it seems inevitable.

Pandora’s Box is open and it cannot be closed. Understanding their fate, mobile networks bid just £2.34bn for 4G licences this year knowing it will slash their last major revenue stream and premiums for 4G contracts will evaporate as competition increases. They fight to chop off their own heads.



Take up and roaming

All of which has led to something of a celebration. Mobile networks are about as popular as estate agents, and even Neelie Crowes, vice president of the European Commission, couldn’t resist a dig on hearing Informa’s research: “The cash cow is dying. Time for telcos to wake up & smell the data coffee."

The trouble is mobile networks know they are dying, just as we all know we are theoretically dying with each breath. Change will take time. Globally smartphones have only just overtaken feature phones. Research firm IDC confirmed the figures on Monday saying smartphone shipments made up 51.6 per cent of the phone market. That means there are still a lot of non-smart handsets unable to capitalise on data’s benefits, the majority of which are bought in the world’s poorest countries.



Furthermore travel remains a huge barrier. In Europe, Crowes's own initiatives have seen data roaming rate caps introduced that cut previously unregulated rates to 90 euro cents (81p) per megabyte in July 2012. Further cuts to 70 euro cents (63p) and 50 euro cents (45p) will come in July 2013 and 2014 respectively. This is useful, but it hardly makes VoIP appealing and it doesn’t allow most people to leave their data hungry smartphones continually roaming, so messaging apps become impractical.

Travel outside Europe and there is no roaming regulation at all and no sign any is likely unless governments can band together - hardly likely to happen. As such unlocked phones and local sims seem the only solution for the data lover far from home.

Diversify or die

Still, while roaming remains lucrative, it is clear the core business of mobile networks is gradually being ripped apart. 11 months ago O2 reported phone calls were just the fifth most popular smartphone activity and the launch of 4G (which isn’t used for phone calls) will shrink that further. So networks must adapt.

With 4G providing potential speeds of up to 300Mbit, the obvious market for telcos to attack is fixed line broadband. Hardcore users will most likely stick to their fibre connections , but for many the convenience of no fixed cable or home phone line will have strong appeal. Networks will be able to charge premiums, though probably not for long.

The irony in all this is telcos have never been more important. Their mobile networks are instrumental to the progression of smartphones, tablets, laptops and Cloud computing. The trouble is what fuels them is a commodity and in the data revolution telco’s lose.

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Future Apple and Samsung phones could feature unbreakable displays

With the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 marking Apple and Samsung out as current leaders of the smartphone scene, industry experts have suggested future handsets from the two companies could feature unbreakable displays.

Telling TrustedReviews to “watch this space,” handset protection experts have hinted that the displays of future phones could integrate impact protection polymers which absorb impacts, spreading the force across the full surface of the device, dramatically reducing breakage rates.

With the Sony Xperia Z having recently introduced water and dust proofing to a slimline, aesthetically pleasing flagship phone, case and impact protection specialist Tech21 has claimed future Apple and Samsung devices could take this a step further with potentially ‘unbreakable’ screens.

Although not introducing a new, toughened glass screen type outright, Jason Roberts, CEO and Founder of Tech21 has hinted that impact protection polymers could be built directly into the display panels of future phones, with Apple and Samsung two potential implementers of such technologies.

With impact protection screen overlays currently available as optional extras for the likes of the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 through the Tech21 Impact Shield, Roberts teased: “Taking our unique polymers to the next stage [integrating it into the manufacturing of phones] is an interesting dynamic, and just watch this space is what I would say.”

Hinting that Apple and Samsung could be amongst the first to implement such features, he added: “We are the only impact protection brand in Apple globally. We are the only impact protection with Samsung globally.

Suggesting that the current trend for ever larger screen sizes could help push manufacturers to integrate impact protection polymers in the manufacturing process, Roberts added: “I don’t know the roadmaps for all of these manufacturers, but it seems that the screens are getting bigger as we are having a mixture between tablet and phone and they are trying to fill the gap there.

“If you’re using glass, glass fractures. It doesn’t matter what type of toughened glass you are using, every piece of glass is unique and there will be tiny fractures in that glass, so some glass breaks quite easily and some glass breaks a lot harder.”

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UK tablet use grows despite predicted slow in iPad sales

According to new data, UK tablet use has grown by nearly 40 per cent in comparison to last year, despite a predicted slow in iPad sales over the year.

Market research firm, eMarketer, estimates that nearly 20 million UK residents use a tablet at least once a month, up from 14.1 million last year. This figure isn’t restricted to tablet owners alone, but includes the users who share a device between household members.

The firm predicts that by 2017, 52 per cent of the UK population will have access to a tablet, a figure expected to mirror the same percentage of users in the US.

However, the rising popularity of tablets will be boosted by the introduction of lower price tablet options such as the Google Nexus 7, HP Slate 7 or Amazon Kindle Fire HD.

The competition from cheaper or more cost effective tablets will have an adverse effect on iPad sales, predicts eMarketer. Up 125 per cent last year, iPad users are predicted to reach 11.6 million users this year equating to 18.2 per cent of the UK population or 59 per cent of tablet users in general.

However, by 2017 that figure is expected to drop to 40 per cent due to increased competition in the tablet market, despite rumoured iPad mini 2 and iPad 5 release dates on the horizon.

The recent surge in tablet use was due to the launch of the original iPad in 2010 and since then its various iterations including the iPad mini have dominated the slate market.

Smartphone use and the increased comfort with accessing the internet using mobile devices will only continue to boost the tablet use percentage, especially as lower priced smartphones and tablets come on sale.

Interestingly though, eMarketer defines a tablet as any touchscreen device with a colour display anywhere between 5-inches and 14-inches, but excludes any devices capable of making cellular voice calls.

This then could include laptop/tablet hybrids like the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 and Asus Vivo Tab, but won’t take large screen smartphones like the 5-inch Sony Xperia Z, 5.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 2 or huge Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 due this month.

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Leaked Samsung Galaxy Note 3 specs point to eight-core processor and 3GB of RAM

New Samsung Galaxy Note 3 specs have leaked online, suggesting the stylus hosting handset will become the world’s most powerful smartphone.

Widely expected to make a jump in screen size, latest Samsung Galaxy Note 3 leaks have hinted that the third-generation smartphone turn tablet hybrid will play host to the same Exynos 5 eight-core processor afforded to the Samsung Galaxy S4 in certain markets.

Far from a one-trick pony, the prematurely outed Samsung Galaxy Note 3 specs, which have hit the web courtesy of an unnamed “trusted insider” speaking with serial Samsung tipster, SamMobile, have claimed that the device will also be the first handset to benefit from a whopping 3GB of RAM.

Following suit with its S4 smartphone sibling, it has been suggested that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 replacement will feature a Super AMOLED display with a 1920 x 1080p Full HD resolution. Unlike the 5-inch Samsung Galaxy S4, however, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is expected to host a 5.99-inch screen, with a digitiser allowing it to function with the boxed Samsung S Pen stylus.

Further adding to the already blossoming, yet still unconfirmed Samsung Galaxy Note 3 specs sheet, it is believed that the device will sport a 13-megapixel rear-mounted camera, as well as Google’s Android OS and Samsung’s Touch Wiz UI.

Despite Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie widely expected to be heading for a Google I/O unveiling later this month, the leaked specs have pointed towards the Note 3 running the current Android 2.2 Jelly Bean OS or a currently unconfirmed Android 4.3 update.

Far from the first Samsung Galaxy Note 3 rumours to do the rounds, yesterday a claimed “Samsung insider” reportedly revealed that a trio of Galaxy Note 3 prototypes are currently in the works, with one featuring a flexible screen.

Although Samsung has yet to officially acknowledge the existence of such a device, it has been repeatedly reported that a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date will be held in the weeks following an IFA 2013 unveiling in early September.

If you have been holding out for a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 but can no longer stand the wait, check out our best smartphones feature to see which handsets you should be considering.

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Call of Duty: Ghosts demo hints at 2013 new Xbox 720 release

Ahead of the May 21 new Xbox unveiling, Activision has all but confirmed Microsoft’s next-generation console will hit retailers later this year, revealing Call of Duty: Ghosts will be a demo title for the device.

With Call of Duty: Ghosts having been formally unveiled yesterday as the 2013 addition to the much loved COD gaming franchise, publisher Activision has revealed that a live Call of Duty: Ghosts demo will be shown during the new Xbox unveiling later this month.

Confirming that Call of Duty: Ghosts will be made available for “next-generation platforms,” Activision has announced that eager gamers keen to get more info on the next COD offering will be able to “see it live at the new generation Xbox reveal.” With a Call of Duty: Ghosts release date confirmed for November 5, it is believed that with the game being used as a demonstration model for the next Xbox, Microsoft’s PS4 rival will also hit retailers before the year’s end.

Speaking on the upcoming Call of Duty: Ghosts release, Mark Rubin, an Executive Producer at Infinity Ward said: "Everyone was expecting us to make Modern Warfare 4, which would have been the safe thing to do. But we're not resting on our laurels."

He added: "We saw the console transition as the perfect opportunity to start a new chapter for Call of Duty. So we're building a new sub-brand, a new engine, and a lot of new ideas and experiences for our players. We can't wait to share them with our community."

While Sony has already confirmed that a PS4 release date will be held during the “2013 holiday season,” Microsoft has remained tight-lipped on its next-gen Xbox plans, with the console not set to be unveiled until May 21.

Although a number of Xbox 720 rumours have previously pointed to an in-store launch ahead of the lucrative Christmas shopping period, the confirmation of a Call of Duty: Ghosts demo at the console’s big reveal offers the best indication yet as to when we can expect the console to land.

With Activision having confirmed the COD: Ghosts will be used to demonstrate the capabilities of the new Xbox, it has also been suggested that, having missed the PS4 unveiling, live Battlefield 4 gameplay could be on show during Microsoft’s big event.

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GTA 5 PC release played down by Rockstar

Publisher Rockstar has once again played down reports of an upcoming GTA 5 PC release, stating that it is focussed only on PS3 and Xbox 360.

Discussing the possibility of a GTA 5 PC release later this year with fans via its official Newswire page, a Rockstar spokesperson has stated that the company is “currently focused on Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game.”

Having this week unveiled a trio of new GTA 5 trailers, each one focussing on one of the game’s three lead protagonists, Rockstar has repeatedly come under scrutiny for what platforms the latest Grand Theft Auto instalment will support, with delays to the game putting the launch in the midst of the expected PS4 and Xbox 720 arrival.

"We're currently focused on Xbox 360 and PS3 version of the game and don't have any details to share about the possibility of a PC version at this time,” the Rockstar spokesperson stated.

Although not completely ruling out the possibility of a future GTA 5 PC release, Rockstar previously teased that it would consider all avenues for the its next flagship title, hinting that GTA 5 could launch for everything from the core consoles and Wii U to the likes of iPhone and Android devices.

Stating that “everything else is up for consideration,” Dan Houser, Vice President of Rockstar Games last year said: “We are a third-party publisher. We're not Nintendo, we're not Sony, we're not Microsoft. We love all of them in different ways. But we can do what we want wherever there's the appropriate business opportunity and chance to find a market.”

He added: “If that's on Apple we put something on Apple. Wherever it might be. I think that's the fun in what we do. We see ourselves as a content company that uses technology. We don't make it; we use it to make the most fun stuff.”

While the title is currently unconfirmed for a PC based arrival, recent GTA 5 PC release rumours suggested systems would require a hefty 16GB of RAM in order to fully run the Rockstar published offering.

While GTA 5 continues to grab headlines, it is far from the year’s only big gaming release, for a roundup of what’s still to come, take a look at of best games of 2013 feature.

Via: Gamepur

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Android Jelly Bean overtakes Ice Cream Sandwich but fragmentation continues

Android Jelly Bean has finally overtaken Android Ice Cream Sandwich in terms of active users, but it's no closer to solving the Google platform's age-old fragmentation issue.

Up until recently Google's previous version of Android, Android 4.0 aka Ice Cream Sandwich, was still in operation on more Android handsets than Android 4.1 and 4.2 aka Jelly Bean.

The problem appears to be receding - at least for the moment. Recently released Google figures over on the official Android developers website show that the current iteration of Android has finally overtaken its immediate predecessor some six months after its initial launch.

The number of active Jelly Bean devices rose by 3.4 percent in April, bringing the total up to 28.4 percent of all Android devices in use today. This surpasses the 27.5 percent claimed by Ice Cream Sandwich.

This can obviously be attributed to a couple of factors - Ice Cream Sandwich handsets finally getting a software update to the latest version, and owners of older pre-Android 4.0 devices upgrading to brand new Jelly Bean-equipped smartphones like the HTC One.



Android Fragmentation

Don't think that this is a significant step towards eradicating the old F problem. Android still suffers from chronic fragmentation.

The evidence for this is right there in the same pie chart as the aforementioned figures. Jelly Bean may have overtaken Ice Cream Sandwich, but it's still only the second most widely used Android OS out there - and by a considerably margin.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread represents a whopping 38.5 percent of currently active Android devices. This means that a two and a half year old mobile OS remains the dominant Android build.

Naturally that percentage is falling fast, but you have to suspect that the next version of Android will be released way before Jelly Bean gets the chance to overtake Gingerbread become both the most recent and the most popular version of Android

If you're due a smartphone upgrade around about now, why not use our Best Mobile Phones 2013 roundup to help you decide.

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LG Optimus L3 II E430 Phone Review

What is the LG Optimus L3 II E430

Android handsets don't come much smaller than the LG Optimus L3 II. It stands just 102mm tall so it will go hardly noticed in your pocket or bag. It's cheap too, as you can buy it from O2 on Pay As You Go for a shade under £80, but does this mobile's compact size hamper its usability?

LG Optimus L3 II E430 - Design

High-end mobiles like the Xperia Z and Galaxy S4 may be growing ever larger in size, but LG is going in the other direction with the L3 II. It's one of the smallest Android mobiles we've seen in quite some time. This is mainly due to the fact that it uses a very small 3.2inch display allowing LG to squeeze it's height down to just over 10cm, but it's not much narrower than a lot of it's larger screened rivals as it measures 6cm wide.

From the front at least, the phone doesn’t look much different to the original Optimus L3 that LG introduced last year. It's got the same piano black finish on the bezel around the screen and the elongated home button that sits beneath the display. However, the home button can now light up with different colours to notify you of stuff such as missed calls and new emails or text messages, which is a neat touch.

The two buttons that lie to either side only light up when you touch them, which is a tad annoying when you're using the phone in the dark, but once touched they do at least stay illuminated for a couple of seconds.

LG has also dumped the corrugated feel of the plastic back on the original L3 and instead replaced it with a brushed metal effect on this update, although it's still made from plastic rather than metal. It looks better than the old finish, but it feels quite slippery to the touch and highlights the overall plastiky feel of the phone.

LG Optimus L3 II E430 - Screen

While the L3 II is likely to win some fans due to its small size, its tiny 3.2inch screen is also likely to put a lot of people off, especially as it has an extremely low resolution of 240x320 pixels.

The low resolution means text looks a bit hazy and indistinct and web browsing is compromised because you often can’t read headlines on new websites when you're in the standard zoomed out, full page view that most sites default to when you first land on them. You also have to do a lot of scrolling and zooming on websites just to be able to read columns of text – something that starts to try your patience after a while.

The screen's viewing angels aren’t great either as the display darkens a fair bit when you twist the phone left or right in your hand or tilt it up and down. On the plus side it is reasonably bright and doesn't wash out when you’re using it outdoors. However, like the Optimus L5 II it doesn't have a light sensor, so it can't automatically adjust screen brightness. Instead you have to manually adjust it using a slider found in the notifications tab.

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