No fix until June 27 for PS3 consoles 'bricked' by firmware update

No PS3 activity this weekend for those users affected

Sony PlayStation 3 owners whose consoles were rendered useless after downloading a firmware update this week won't receive a fix until next Thursday, the company has said.

According to Sony, a "small number" of PS3 users were affected by update 4.45, which launched earlier in this week, leaving consoles effectively bricked.

In a pair of posts on the official PlayStation Europe Twitter account, Sony said a fix will be coming on July 27, but until then those affected users have a weekend (and then some) without the use of their console.

The first tweet read: "Hi guys, we have identified the issue related to PS3 software update (4.45) that impacted a small number of PS3 systems earlier this week."

That was followed by: "A new system software update is planned to be released on June 27 that resolves the issue."

The issue brings to a close a honeymoon period of unwaveringly positive press since the E3 expo when Sony took a giant leap ahead in the next-gen console battle with its PS4 keynote.

However, although beating the Xbox One must be a giant priority for the company, it would be advised not to forget all about loyal PS3 users, it hopes will continue to support the existing console and upgrade to the PS4.

Is your console one of those affected by the firmware issue? Let us know your thoughts, or feel free to have a bit of a rant, in the comments section below.

Via The Verge

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Instagram users upload 5 million video clips in first 24 hours

Instagram's video feature looks and acts like Vine

The jury may still be out on the merits Instagram's new video feature but there's certainly no shortage of users rushing to try it out.

Speaking to CNET on Friday, the company claimed that a whopping five million clips were uploaded to the service within the first 24 hours of the app being updated.

The peak time came at the end of Game 7 of the NBA basketball finals in the United States as the Miami Heat emerged victorious against the San Antonio Spurs.

Instagram said 40 hours of video were uploaded per minute during that time period which, for clips a maximum of 15 seconds long, is a serious amount of posts.

CNET also pointed out that it would take two whole years to watch the video posted in the first 8 hours.

The update, which arrived on Thursday afternoon, allows users to record clips up to 15 seconds long, add a new batch of filters and upload finished products to sit alongside stills images in feeds.

Just like Twitter's Vine app, Instagram's offering allows users to record multiple scenes within the clip by pressing, holding and releasing the record button, leading many observers to dismiss the feature as a straight-up copy.

However, Instagram's clips are twice as long, have instantly rendered filters, the ability to tap the screen to focus and new image stabilisation tech called 'Cinema'.

Are you one of the Instagram users who couldn't wait to try out the new feature? Do you think it's better than Vine? Or is it simply Facebook trying to nullify Twitter's short video sharing solution. Let us know in the comments section below.

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New Sony smartwatch teasers litter Twitter, pictures leaked

Sony SmartWatch Twitter teasers

Sony has released a series of tweets teasing the imminent launch of a new Sony SmartWatch at the Mobile Asia Expo 2013 next week.

Using the official Sony Xperia Twitter account, Sony has sent out a string of messages with the hashtags #itstime and #MAE13, but has now released a potential picture of the upcoming SmartWatch.

“Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock #itstime #MAE13”, read today’s tweet that contained the picture of the Sony SmartWatch.

Although it is highly doubtful, if it is a new iteration of the device, it certainly look very similar to the existing Sony Xperia SmartWatch. The only thing that makes us wonder is that this device is slimmer and has a different coloured strap.

Sony hasn’t giving any explicit details, especially for the specs of the supposedly upcoming device, but earlier tweeted that it will be “the only wearable device with 200 #firstgen apps on Google Play and growing”.

Starting earlier this week, Sony began emitting wearable smart device related tweets, reminiscing about its existing smart watch iterations and original wearable tech like the Sony Walkman.

“We launched the world’s first ‘smart’ watch in 2007 #itstime #MAE13,” Sony tweeted on June 20.

“Wearable tech is in our DNA. Remember WALKMAN, now…? #itstime #MAE13,” read another tweet earlier that day.

MAE 2013 starts next week and Sony has a media event planned for Tuesday. Given the sheer amount of SmartWatch and wearable tech related tweets the Sony Xperia account is pushing out prior to that event, we strongly suspect Sony will launch its new SmartWatch there.

The Japanese electronics company even released a tweet stating that a third of all smartphone users were yearning for smart wrist wear, which it says is data coming from research company BI Intelligence.

Sony may be making a fairly smart move launching its new SmartWatch next week, especially as Apple, Microsoft, Google, LG and Samsung are all supposedly working on their own smartwatch or wearable tech devices. That’s not even including Google Glass.

Next, read our pick of the best mobile phones of 2013.


Via: Xperia Blog

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Xbox One and PS4 pre-orders break records, 2,500 consoles sold per minute

Xbox One and PS4 pre-orders are breaking records, have you secured yours?

Xbox One and PS4 pre-orders are already breaking records months ahead of their official release dates, with 2,500 consoles being sold per minute on Amazon alone.

With both Sony and Microsoft’s next-gen gamers to hit retailers later this year, pre-orders have reportedly kicked off with a bang as Amazon confirms the rival consoles are helping break pre-order records across the leading online retailer.

“Last week, the Amazon Video Games store made history with its biggest pre-order week ever thanks to the launch of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4,” an official statement from the company has confirmed. It added: “In fact, at the peak of demand last week, Amazon customers were pre-ordering more than 2,500 Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles per minute.”

While Xbox One pre-orders had originally been leading the way, last week’s confirmation of both console’s official pricing saw Sony’s next-gen offering overtake its bitter rival. With the Xbox One price set at £429, Sony undercut the Microsoft console by £80, announcing the PS4 price as £349.

With Amazon suggesting the new consoles have seen gaming related pre-orders soar 4,000 per cent year on year, the retailer has added that day-one advanced sales for the two console double the number of games sold on Black Friday last year, a day renowned for its shopping boom.

Far from the only retailer to have expressed strong uptake of the two new gamers, Blockbuster recently claimed that the PS4’s more tantalizing price saw interest in the PS3 follow-on increase dramatically overnight.

The company’s head of products added: “We are absolutely thrilled with the amazing response to our pre-order service for both the PS4 and Xbox One!”

With interest in the pair of consoles expected to outstrip launch supplies, a number of retailers are already limiting customers to just a single pre-order each.

Addressing the potential stock limitations Sony’s Global Head of the PlayStation Business, Andrew House stated: “demand may well outstrip supply.”

He added: “The company is shifting its internal projections for the product after favourable reaction to the company’s presentation Monday.”

Fergal Gera, Head of Sony PlayStation UK added: “We’ll do our best to have plenty of stock for gamers in the UK.”

Read More: Xbox One vs PS4

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Apple MacBook Air 13-inch 2013 Laptop Review

What is the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch 2013?

The MacBook Air is what passes for Apple's 'entry-level' laptop these days. The 13-inch version, which weighs just 1.35kg and costs £950, is hardly 'entry-level' by normal standards, but the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air is one of the few Apple products you can call good value with a straight face.

Indeed, this year's update is £50 cheaper than the 2012 Apple MacBook Air 13-inch, and a combination of a larger battery and Intel's new, more efficient, Haswell processors sees Apple increase the claimed battery life from seven hours to a scarcely believable 12 hours.

Has Apple set the standard for Windows-based Ultrabooks to follow again, and should existing owners upgrade? Let's find out.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2013) - Design & Build Quality

We can't think of any way to improve the MacBook Air's design, and clearly Apple can't either. This design is several years old now, but it's still to our eyes the most attractive, refined laptop in its class.

Its aluminium unibody frame weighs just 1.35kg, and is just 17mm at its thickest point. The build quality is supreme, too. The hinge is smooth, the fit and finish faultless. It's ridiculous that you can buy a laptop this nice for 'just' £950.

Weaknesses? Physical connectivity is limited to a couple of USB 3 ports, a Thunderbolt 2/mini-DisplayPort and an SD card slot, but it's enough to get by on. Complaints about the lack of Ethernet seem petty now. Anyone determined to work in the park in summer will find the aluminium body ill-suited to the task, but it says a lot that you have think that hard to find fault.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2013) - Screen Quality

It's harder to make the same case for the screen. Don't mistake us, the 1,440 x 900 resolution screen is very good. Colours are rich, blacks are remarkably clean and deep, and the viewing angle is good.

It's decent in bright light despite its 'glossy' finish. Decent by the standard of glossy screens at least; it's not a patch on the Samsung Series 9 NP900X3D and its exceedingly bright anti-glare screen in this regard.

It's the resolution that's the real let down, however. We never expected a retina resolution, least of all at this price, but a small bump to 1,680 x 1,050 or a 1080p screen feels in order. We suspect Apple's hands are tied here as any meaningful upgrade would require a switch to more widely manufactured 16:9 ratio screens, as opposed to Apple's preferred 16:10 aspect.

That doesn't dampen our yearning for something better, though. With the likes of the Dell XPS Duo 12 and the Acer Aspire S7 13-inch available at the same price with 1080p screens, the MacBook has fallen behind in this area. Not dramatically so, but enough for us to take note.

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iOS 7 Safari update to introduce a host of new features

The iOS 7 Safari update will introduce a host of new features to make the Apple mobile internet browsing experience much richer.

Safari has been given a fresh coat of paint for iOS 7 and will include a number of new features including a new smart search box and fullscreen mode for landscape and portrait viewing.

Of course, on the surface Safari for iOS 7 has retained some of the same features as its predecessor. It still has the address bar at the top of the screen, menu bar at the bottom and the traditional back, forward, share tab and bookmarks function buttons.

With iOS 7, when a user scrolls down the page, Apple has conveniently made all of the above disappear to allow full access to the content of the selected website. They will automatically reappear when the user reaches the top or bottom of the page.

Fullscreen browsing has also been made the only viewing option for iOS 7 Safari. Previously, it was only available when viewing content in landscape orientation on the iOS 6 version of the browser. Now, it is available in portrait and landscape and users won’t have to toggle it on or off.

Safari on iOS 7 now has a new unified smart search box that offers users a number of options to search. These include “Bookmarks and History”, “Google Search”, “Suggested Sites”, “Top Hits” and “On This Page.”

Tying in with the new iCloud Keychain, which stores passwords and usernames across any OS X and iOS devices like the iPad Mini or iPhone 5, Safari now offers the AutoFill function. It allows Safari to remember personal details such as names and credit card details that can be stored on a site-by-site basis.

iOS 7 also introduces a new tab view for Safari, which is more akin to the iTunes Cover Flow feature that presents the open websites in a 3D scrollable list. Similar to Android, users can swipe off-screen to close any tab as well.

Users will also be able to view any URLs posted in their Twitter feed in the “Shared Links” section.

iOS 7 will be available sometime in the autumn, as will the new OS X Mavericks for Apple desktop devices.

Next, read explore the best bits of OS X Mavericks’ new features.

Via: AppleInsider

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Huawei: ‘There is a huge demand for pink phones’

Is the pink Huawei Ascend P6 a sign of things to come?

With most flagship smartphone now coming in both black and white colour waves, manufacturer Huawei has suggested ‘there is a huge demand for pink phones’.

Bestowing the recently unveiled Huawei Ascend P6, the world’s thinnest phone at just 6.18mm thick, with a third, pink colour option to go with the standard monochromo offerings, Huawei has claimed pink handsets are a surprise success of the smartphone sector.

“Traditionally pink phones have always done well,” Nick Woodley, Head of ID Design at Huawei’s London design offices said speaking with TrustedReviews.

Unable to explain the reasoning behind the popularity of pink portables, Woodley suggested that the vibrantly hued handsets go against the design principles of modern smartphones.

“With smartphones there is a general rule that the actual object itself is as simple as possible and as neutral as possible so if someone wants to put a Hello Kitty case on it then it doesn’t clash, you let people customise through accessories.” He added: “But there is a huge demand for pink phones, for some reason they work.”

While some will argue that a pink option on a phone range is a shameless and sexist effort to attract the female market, Woodley has dismissed these claims, stating it is nothing more than an alternative the potentially bleak black and white offerings.

“If a woman finds it patronising she will buy a white one or a black one,” he said. “However, there is, for whatever reason, a real market for pink phones.”

Formally unveiled earlier this week, the super skinny Huawei Ascend P6 is the latest flagship phone from the Chinese manufacturer. Running a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, the streamlined device boasts an 8-megapixel rear-mounted camera and a second, 5-megapixel snapper up front.

With a 2,000mAh Lithium-Ion battery running the show alongside Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS, the Huawei Ascend P6 specs sheet is rounded off by 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD.

Read More: Best smartphones 2013

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Samsung Galaxy S3 to retire, Galaxy S4 production scaled back

Samsung is planning to retire the Samsung Galaxy S3 earlier than planned, and will be scaling back production of the Samsung Galaxy S4.

According to industry sources, the Wireless Business Division of Samsung Electronics will reduce the monthly production of Galaxy S4 handsets by as much as 15 per cent, while the Samsung Galaxy S3 will be removed from sale.

Speaking to the Korean website ET News, the sources say the July order for Samsung Galaxy S4 parts is only enough to make 6.5 million S4 handsets. This is only around half the size of the order placed in May.

Samsung has reportedly noted that the company isn’t selling enough Galaxy S4 handsets to justify such large orders and has been accumulating parts in its inventory.

A recent report from JP Morgan indicating their fears over slowing Galaxy S4 sales caused the financial services firm to cut Samsung share price estimates by 9.5 per cent and the company’s 2013 earnings prediction by 9 per cent. These estimates caused Samsung prices to tumble.

Many claim that the recently unveiled Samsung Galaxy S4 iterations – the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and Samsung Galaxy S4 Active – are diluting the electronics manufacturer’s flagship device.

The sources also revealed that several smartphone models will be retired to streamline its production operations. This will include the Samsung Galaxy S3 in a bid to boost poor sales performance.

Samsung will pin its hopes on the Galaxy S4 and its various editions and new devices like the highly-rumoured Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

The company’s flagship smartphone has already achieved great consumer success. The Samsung Galaxy S4 reached the 10 million unit sales milestone less than one month after the flagship device launched.

At the Samsung Galaxy and ATIV event this week, Samsung also confirmed five new Samsung Galaxy S4 colours to complement the black and white iterations.



Next, read our Samsung Galaxy S4 tips and tricks.

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Best PS4 games to look out for

Sony put PS4 games before PS4 console when it officially announced the successor to the PS3 earlier this year, and Xbox One-baiting aside took the opportunity to unleash another batch of titles during its E3 2013 press conference.

Serving up a mix of its most successful franchises with a smattering of original games, Sony is hoping it can show off the capabilities of the PS4 when it launches, whether it’s the extra processing power, the cloud gaming capabilities or the new DualShock 4 controller.

For the loyal fans who plan to stick with the Sony in the next generation console battle and the Xbox One boycotters, these are the PlayStation 4 games you need to keep an eye out for when the console is released later this year.

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LG HR939M Review

What is the LG HR939M?

It’s a Blu-ray player and Freeview PVR packed into a single box, boasting a massive 1TB hard-disk drive, twin Freeview HD tuners and 3D Blu-ray playback. It’s also equipped with built-in Wi-Fi plus internet content and DLNA media streaming. There’s some stiff competition in this sector from the likes of Panasonic and Samsung, so let’s see where LG fits in.

LG HR939M – Design

The HR939M is an attractive and robustly built deck, styled in black all over with surprisingly slim bodywork and a snazzy sloping front panel. The glossy black fascia is embedded with a row of hard buttons (not touch sensitive) shaped into their respective icons, next to which is a tiny panel which only has room to display the time. On the right-hand side is a USB port, tidily hidden away under a flap which is used for music, video and photo playback from flash memory drives.

LG HR939M – Connections

The rear panel is populated by an RF input and loopthrough, a HDMI output, a second USB port, optical digital audio output and an Ethernet port. The only omission is a Scart output for old-school archivists who like to make DVDs from hard-disk recordings, otherwise it offers everything you’d expect. The USB port is designed for those who want to connect an external hard-disk drive for extra Freeview recording space (it would look a bit scruffy plugged in the front port).

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LG to launch Optimus G2 on August 7?

LG is expected to launch its next-generation LG Optimus G2 device at a New York event on August 7.

The South Korean company has announced it is planning an “international media event” based in New York City on August 7, but fails to release any further details.

The event announcement comes just days after LG confirmed that the LG Optimus G2 will run on a Snapdragon 800 CPU.

It seems fairly coincidental that the two announcements are so close together, so we strongly predict the LG August 7 event to be smartphone related.

LG has already confirmed that the successor to the flagship LG Optimus G will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor that is said to offer a 75 per cent performance increase of the Snapdragon S4 Pro – found inside the LG-made Google Nexus 4 and Sony Xperia Z.

“With a powerful combination of LG’s core smartphone technologies and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, we are taking a significant step forward in the mobile experience,” said President and CEO of LG Mobile, Dr. Jong-seok Park. “The result of this collaboration will in many ways be the industry’s best smartphone by which all other devices will be measured.”

Rumoured to run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the LG Optimus G2 is tipped to have a 5-inch 1080p IPS display with a 13-megapixel camera.

The South Korean electronics manufacturer confirmed to TrustedReviews in April that the LG Optimus G2 would definitely launch in Q3, so this August event will fit nicely with such a release schedule.

“The LG Optimus G2 is coming in Q3,” said Won Kim, LG’s Head of Mobile Communication for Europe. “To some extent we have to tease the features and specifications through channels, it is somewhat premature for me to talk about the G2 in terms of specifications.”



Next, read our review of the LG Optimus G Pro .

Via: Engadget

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iPhone 5S assembled in new photos with dual LED flash and bigger battery

New images of the heavily rumoured iPhone 5S have emerged online showing a near to fully assembled model of the rumoured Apple flagship upgrade.

The slightly blurred images reveal the back and innards of the rumoured iPhone 5S on the assembly line, but don’t show the display panel of the device.

The nearly complete form of the iPhone 5 update seems to fall into line with previous iPhone 5S leaks, including the handset’s logic board, SIM card tray, loudspeaker and other such small components.

However, there is an Apple-labelled processor shown that is otherwise unknown. The current iPhone 5 uses the Apple A6 processor, but for the iPhone 5S or even iPhone 6 we’d expect a processor upgrade.

The pictured processor suggests that it was made in October 2012, which would be a little too early for a next-generation handset like the iPhone 5S, which has caused some to question the validity of the images.

Of course, these images could depict a prototype of the iPhone 5S that is not indicative of a final product.

There is a more powerful battery included in the component shot of the iPhone 5s above. It has a 5.92 Watt hour capacity, while the iPhone 5 battery offers 5.45 Watt hours.

On the rear of the iPhone 5S is the same elongated pill shaped flash seen in the leaked iPhone 5S and budget iPhone diagrams that emerged earlier this week. This supports the rumours that the iPhone 5S will have a dual LED flash to improve night-time and low-light shooting.

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 5S and plastic-bodied budget iPhone (also dubbed the iPhone mini or iPhone Light) in September, with the two handsets shipping with the newly unveiled iOS 7 mobile operating system.



Next, read what’s new in our iOS 7 features list.

Via: MacRumours

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Samsung: ‘The are no more Samsung Galaxy S4 spinoffs in the works’

Samsung Galaxy S4 spinoffs

With a trio of Samsung Galaxy S4 spinoffs set to hit retailers in the coming weeks, the South Korean Manufacturer has confirmed it will not produce any further iterations of its flagship phone.

Having flogged the Samsung Galaxy S4 cashcow to within an inch of its life, Samsung has suggested the Galaxy S4 family is now complete, with the flagship model to be supported by a trio of spinoffs but no more. Staggering the unveiling of the S4 offspring, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, Samsung Galaxy S4 Active and Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom have all been unveiled in recent weeks.

“With the arrival of the Galaxy S4 Mini, Galaxy S4 Active and Galaxy S4 Zoom we can finally say the Galaxy S4 range is complete,” DJ Lee, President and Head of Sales and Marketing for Samsung’s IT and Mobile Communications Division said.

While the Samsung Galaxy S4 is currently the must-have handset on the smartphone scene, concerns have been expressed about the device’s brand appeal being diluted beyond repair by too many spinoff devices coming to market.

While the Samsung Galaxy S4 plays host to a high-end array of innards including a 5-inch 1080p Full HD display, quad-core processor and a 13-megapixel rear-mounted camera, the trio of existing spinoffs have failed to replicate the S4’s full potential, instead playing host to their own party piece features.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini lines up as a 4.3-inch mid-market device that shares little with the S4 beyond a similar design principle. It is a direct replacement to the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini and boasts a 1.7GHz dual-core processor and an 8-megapixel rear-mounted camera. Targeting a cheaper price point, the S4 Mini is an entry point into the S4 brand.

Providing added protection, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is an IP67 certified spinoff which can be submerged under a metre of water for up to 30 minutes. Retaining the S4’s 5-inch form the Active again drops to an 8-megapixel snapper but sports the same 1.9GHz quad-core processor as the flagship model.

Going in the opposite direction and improving on the S4’s snapper, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom hosts a 16-megapixel snapper with a 10x optical zoom. Adding considerable bulk, the Zoom is a compact camera turn smartphone hybrid, again running a 4.3-inch display.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs S4 Mini vs S4 Zoom vs S4 Active

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Michael Sawh

Swapping lad mags for laptops, Michael has spent the past five years marshalling the online features desk at T3.com and penning a review or two for T3 Magazine, including every Samsung tablet ever released. After spending several years in a beautiful place called Stoke to bag a Journalism degree, Michael returned home to the big smoke where the drinks prices are steeper, but the sights are certainly nicer, to find a way to make a living out of some of the skills he learnt at University. When not grabbing a games controller, building mammoth Spotify playlists or constantly refreshing Twitter like a mad man, Michael loves running marathons, going to watch any football match and then blogging all about it afterwards.

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PS4 release date listed as November 13 by retailer

The PS4 release date has been tipped as November 13

The PS4 release date has been teased, with a specialist European retailer listing the next-gen console and Xbox One rival with a November 13 arrival.

While Sony has yet to tie down the final date of arrival for its PS3 follow-on, the Amsterdam chain of retailer Media Markt has listed a November 13 PS4 release date, a launch that would see the console land within days of the November Xbox One release date already confirmed by Microsoft.

To date Sony has stated only that the PS4 release date will be held during the “2013 holiday season.”

Although it is unclear where Media Markt has pulled this mid-November console launch from, Sony has suggested that the claims are nothing more than “pure speculation.” Last week during its E3 press conference Sony announced a £349 PS4 price but failed to comment on the console’s arrival.

Remaining quiet on when the eagerly awaited PS4 release date will be held, Sony has, however suggested that the next-gen arrival will not see any PS3 price cuts introduced.

Discussing the possibility of a PS3 price drop, Fergal Gara, Managing Direction for Sony Computer Entertainment UK stated: “There's no plans as yet.”

He added: “The PlayStation 3 is a system where it hasn't been particularly easy to get the costs down. We continue to look at opportunities, there may or may not be any more, I genuinely can't answer to that."

Further discussing the PS3 pricing, Gara stated: "It will certainly be a more keenly priced machine in relative to PlayStation 4. It will sit there as a viable entry level machine for years to come. It will be different by territory as to how long its life is. There's still a lot of love for PS3."

Read More: PS4 pre-orders

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Third of world population will use a smartphone by 2017

New research has predicted that over a third of the world’s population will own and use a smartphone by the end of 2017.

The data, from research analyst company eMarketer, show that smartphone penetration worldwide will be at 34 per cent within four years.

Worldwide 19.8 per cent of the population are already smartphone users, equating to around 1.4 billion active smartphones in use around the world. That figure is predicted to nearly double, reaching 2.51 billion or 34 per cent by 2017.

In the UK alone, 48.4 per cent of the total population or 30.9 million people are already using smartphone, but by next year every other person living in the British Isles will be using one as the percentage rises to 53.4.

As with the majority of countries, Android accounts for the largest market share in the UK with 15 million active users in 2013. iOS takes the second largest share with 8.7 million users, with Windows Mobile and BlackBerry both seeing a decreased user base dropping 4 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.

For the US, Android also takes the largest portion of the smartphone market with 45.9 per cent of users. Apple isn’t far behind though with 38.3 per cent. BlackBerry only accounts of 9.5 per cent of users in America, and Windows Mobile devices are at just 5 per cent.

There will be 140 million smartphone users in the US by the end of this year, showing a growth of 15.3 per cent from last year. As with the UK, American smartphone usage will see over half the population using one by the end of next year.

All the eMarketer data is calculated based on the number of individuals of any age who own at least one smartphone and use that device at least once per month.

Next, read our pick of the best mobile phones of 2013.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Phone Review

What is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active?

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is one of a trio of Samsung Galaxy S4 spinoffs looking to build on the branding of the market leading Android phone. It has retained the S4’s same 5-inch form, building on a strong foundation with waterproof, drop proof and dust proof credentials.

An IP67 certified device, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active has retained some of the S4’s key features, including the powerful 1.9GHz quad-core processor, but downgraded others such as the drop from the S4’s 13-megapixel camera to an 8-megapixel option.

Can added toughness make up for a drop in specs? We have gone hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active to find out.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Design

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active’s design is slimmer than we had expected. Measuring in at 9.1mm thick it is 1.2mm chunkier than its more high-profile sibling yet feels just as streamlined and svelte. On top of this, the added bulk and protection make it feel considerably more sturdy.

The Active is also heavier, but spreads its 151g mass (21g weightier than the S4) across the phone’s full form creating a well-balanced device that is comfortable in the hand.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active’s design is not diminished by its added IP certification and corresponding ruggedness. In a similar vein to the Sony Xperia Z, its waterproofing in brilliantly integrated into the overall feel with no unwanted bulges or aesthetics depleting additions.

Worryingly, however, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is not without its own (potentially big) design issues. Its microUSB cover is more than a little flimsy and all too easy to flip open. We would expect more from a handset designed to be submerged.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active feature a physical trio of Android controls as opposed to the usual touch based options found on the original S4. This allows it to be used in more challenging conditions such as when caked in mud. This proved a welcome addition during our hands-on, letting us control the phone while it was underwater.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Screen

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active’s screen is a slight deviation from that on the S4 but equally impressive. A TFT instead of Super AMOLED panel, it is still of the 5-inch variety and impresses from the off thanks to a 1080p Full HD resolution and stunningly sharp 441 pixels-per-inch image density.

It is a bright, pleasing offering with sharp colours and extremely detailed text and image production. Thanks to its 5-inch form there is plenty of on-screen real estate meaning picture and video playback is a multimedia enjoyers’ dream. On first impressions under bright unnatural light it was difficult to tell if the Active’s screen suffers from the same slight over saturation issues as the flagship S4.

The Active’s screen can’t be used under water, although the phone itself is waterproof. What’s more having been submerged, the display takes a considerable amount of drying before it is ready to be used again. We found it to be jumpy and less responsive than we had expected when it was even predominately dry.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active’s screen is said to feature Glove Touch capabilities, although we were unable to test this during our hands-on. We will further assess the handset’s display within our full Galaxy S4 Active review in the near future.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Performance

On first impressions, the performance of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active felt on par with the S4. Featuring the same 1.9GHz quad-core processor as its big brother, it is also bestowed with 2GB of RAM and Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS skinned with the TouchWiz UI.

App load times were lightning quick, screen transitions were fluid and the jump back to the homescreen was handled without a fraction of fuss or fanfare. The S4 Active looks set to be every much as impressive as the S4 to use although further testing is of cause still required.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active’s performance was not all plain sailing during our hands-on, however. Dipping it under water caused a number of random actions on the phone, with the Active dial obscure numbers and launching multiple programmes without prompting.

Although we must stress this was on a pre-production sample, it is not a great sign for a phone that is supposed to be able to handle trips beneath the surface. Further exploration of this will be made in our full review.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active’s camera is not quite as premium as that found on the original S4. It's also a long way from fellow spinoff the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom. That isn’t to say it doesn’t show a number of promising signs, however.

The Active sports an 8-megapixel rear-mounted camera with an integrated LED Flash that can double as a torch. A second, 2-megapixel snapper sits up front. First impressions of the pair are good. There are plenty of Smart Mode options for ease of use and both launch times and shutter speeds are kept to a minimum.

Images viewed back on the handset’s display appeared well focused and with strong light management in a less than ideal lighting setup. Given the limited testing conditions it is still too early to pass full judgement on the Active’s cameras.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active’s camera also benefits from a dedicated Aqua mode for underwater shooting. A pleasing addition, this enhanced clarity of otherwise slightly murky submerged content. Using the physical volume control as a camera shutter button was a welcome workaround to the inability to use the on-screen prompt whilst under water.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active First Impressions

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is possibly our favourite of the S4 spinoffs. It poses the question what could have the S4 been like with a slightly studier frame and, we expect, gives a nod to next-year’s flagship model. The Active’s design is surprisingly svelte and performance is hard to fault on first use. We could happily give up our S4 for the Active right now and can’t wait for the full review sample to arrive.

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iPhone 6 fingerprint scanner could be hidden in the bezel

Could the iPhone 6 feature a fingerprint scanner in the bezel?

The fingerprint scanner heavily rumoured to feature within the iPhone 6 could be hidden in the handset's bezel, latest Apple patent filings have suggested.

With Apple long rumoured to be bringing a biometric security boost to its future smartphones, a newly unveiled patent application from the company has suggested fingerprint scanners on mobile device could be hidden away under the bezel to save space.

Suggesting that Apple’s engineers have found a way to incorporate the fingerprint scanner within the iPhone’s frame, the patent has pointed to the advancement not only keeping the thickness of hosting products down, but ensuring the biometric sensor is protected from the rigours of being attached to such a frequently used product.

Appearing courtesy of PatentlyApple, the fingerprint encompassing patent has been accompanied by a detailed explanation. The reports stated: “By encasing both the bezel and the sensor die in the encapsulation structure, the elements may be brought closer together than otherwise possible. In addition, the encapsulation structure physically protects the bezel and sensor die, and in particular maintains the spacing there between in a fashion that isn't possible by currently known device designs.”

Although encompassed by the iPhone’s conductive bezel, it has been suggested that the integrated fingerprint scanner will create a slight bulge on the handset’s form factor.

Far from the first time Apple has been rumoured to be plotting a fingerprint scanner for its next-gen iPhone, reports kicked into overdrive late last year when the Cupertino based company behind the iPad mini and iMac acquired fingerprint technology specialist AuthenTech.

Adding further fuel to the fire, earlier this year Apple listed a fingerprint themed job application, with the new employee to work out near AuthenTech’s base on “low-level code to configure and control hardware.”

Read More: iPhone 5 review

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Instagram launches 'Cinema' feature to end shaky-cam iPhone blues

The new Cinema feature for Instagram video, announced today

As part of the new video portion of its iPhone app, Instagram today announced new 'world class' image stabilisation tech it's calling Cinema.

For iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 users of the app, the cinema feature can be selected in post-production in order to help reduce the effects of movement on the iPhone's video camera.

So, for example, if you're walking along the street, or panning the camera around, the Cinema app will adjust the footage to keep it smooth and steady.

The Cinema button appears for users on the preview screen, after they have taken the shot. It's switched on by default, but hitting the icon turns the effect off.

If you switch off the feature and turn it back on you'll be able to see the effect the tech has on the video clip. After a brief test it looks as if it works quite well.

The Facebook-owned company said that it had employed video scientists in order to develop the tech, but some observers have speculated it may simply be a crop and straighten tool that's applied to the clip.

At the moment it appears there are no plans to add this functionality to earlier iPhone models or the company's Android app, which hasn't been updated to accommodate video just yet.

Instagram isn't the only app to offer video stabilisation tech, but it is a notable addition to its new iOS offering.

Have you given it a try yet? Let us know what you think.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Phone Review

What is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom?

The Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom is a camera-centric spinoff to the manufacturer’s flagship Samsung Galaxy S4 offering. Although the Zoom shares few similarities with the original S4, its camera credentials are second to none.

More closely related to the Samsung Galaxy Camera, the S4 Zoom packs a 16-megapixel rear-mounted camera, with a 10x optical zoom further enhancing its imaging abilities and taking it firmly out of reach of rival smartphone snappers.

Are the impressive camera capabilities enough to make the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom the next must-have handset? Read on to find out.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Design

In terms of the design, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is not the most sophisticated or aesthetically pleasing. At 15.4mm thick and 208g in weight it is not exactly slight, and the device’s form resembles a traditional compact camera far more than it does a premium smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom’s design is centred around the handset’s party piece, its 10x optical zoom camera lens. As such, the phone feels slightly top heavy within the hand and is never particularly comfortable to hold. Using as a smartphone in a portrait stance, the Zoom is a tricky beast. Its lens takes up prime real estate needed for a comfortable grip and means fingers have to be splayed either side of the lens.

As with S4, the Zoom’s plastic build makes the handset feel somewhat cheap. Its glossy finish makes it slick and fiddly to hold and the camera-esque grip bulge is not particularly ergonomic or comfortable. Furthermore, the battery and SIM protecting cover is particularly flimsy, held on by a less than reassuring tether.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is a device that is going to feel extremely bulky in your pocket, not like your typical, svelte smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Screen

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is a step back from the flagship model’s 5-inch Full HD offering. That isn’t to say it’s not still a vibrant and pleasing addition, however.

Featuring a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED screen with a 960 x 540 pixel resolution, the S4 Zoom is capable of producing strong, bright images with only a minimal amount of graining or loss of detail and clarity.

Screen transitions are smooth and the touchscreen elements are highly responsive. On first impressions the S4 Zoom’s screen is a drop in form over the S4 but, compared with many handsets, particularly mid-market offerings, it is a strong performer. Further testing is required in varying conditions before we can fully pass judgement though.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Performance

First impressions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom’s performance paint a very familiar picture. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean overlaid with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI and as such is reminiscent of the fully fledged Samsung Galaxy S4.

App launches appeal a little slower and more laboured than on the flagship S4, with the Zoom’s drop to a 1.5GHz dual-core PCU and 1.5GB of RAM a potential cause for this. We must stress, however, that the samples we have used a still pre-production models and so this could be down to nothing more than early software problems.

The S4 Zoom’s 8GB of internal storage is sure to be filled pretty quickly with the high-end snaps that the device is able to capture. Fortunately the camera phone allows for microSD storage expansion up to 64GB.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom’s performance is sure to be aided by the addition of a 2330mAh Lithium-Ion battery and NFC connectivity options, although these require further testing.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom’s camera is the handset’s showpiece and quickly stands out as the best snapper to have been bestowed on a smartphone to date. Yes it might come at a bulky, cumbersome price, but for those intent of high quality snaps, it is a great addition.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom camera is a 16-megapixel option further enhanced by a 10x optical zoom lens, 25 SMART Modes and optical image stabilisation. The f/3.1-f/6.3 lens has a focal range of 24mm to 240mm meaning the Zoom is able to capture both wide angle and super zoom shots with equal aplomb.

Viewing images back on the handset’s display, early camera tests show strong, detailed images that bring far more depth and much improved colour management over standard smartphone cameras. The Zoom’s 10x optical zoom make a massive difference and finally allows your smartphone to totally replace your designated compact.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom’s camera is seamless integrated with the handset’s software. While holding the shutter button launches the camera, jumping back to the Android homescreen sees the zoom lens automatically retract.

What’s more, the Galaxy S4 Zoom’s controlling Zoom ring quickly becomes an intuitive addition to the smartphone setup. Letting you twist to zoom, rifle through menus and even capture shots whilst taking a call, the Zoom ring could well be what makes this niche phone a success.

First impressions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom are very positive and we can’t wait to get the phone in for further testing.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom First Impressions

As a smartphone the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom feels neither practical nor comfortable. As a multipurpose compact camera replacement, however, it is second to none. The S4 Zoom will not appeal to everyone, but, on first impressions at least, it will more than satisfy the needs of smartphone owners looking for market leading camera capabilities.

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Samsung ATIV Q Tablet Review

What is the Samsung ATIV Q?

The Samsung ATIV Q is a new convertible tablet hybrid which, not content with being able to take on various forms also runs both Windows 8 and Android operating systems.

Taking many things on, the Samsung ATIV Q runs the risk of feeling cluttered and clumsy. Fortunately the two distinct operating systems are individually hosted but provide strong, seamless file and data transitions work together well, quietly and behind the scenes.

Convertibles have been threatening to push a new forge in the tablet and notebook scenes for some time; can the Samsung ATIV Q finally win the battle for the hybrids? We go hands-on to see for ourselves.

Samsung ATIV Q Design

The Samsung ATIV Q’s design is all about the tablet’s many forms. Capable of taking on four different guises (‘tablet’, ‘typing’, ‘floating’ and ‘stand’), the ATIV Q is jack of many talents and, pleasingly, master of at least a couple. While the ‘floating’ stance of the screen pointing up on a stork is of little use, the ‘typing’ position highlights the unit’s impressive keyboard.

The Samsung ATIV Q is 13.9mm thick and 1.29kg in weight. Although not slight by any stretch of the imagination, this mass is well distributed across the hybrid’s full 13.3-inch form and as such feels as comfortable and sturdy as any Asus or Acer convertible.

Available in black, the Samsung ATIV Q’s rather smooth design is broken up by all manner of connection ports. A single USB 3.0 port features alongside a USB 2.0 connection while microHDMI and microSD slots are also present.

The Q’s design is functional more than attractive but, with time, we can see it growing on us and winning us over with its multiple forms and convertible options.

Samsung ATIV Q Screen

The Samsung ATIV Q screen is a bit of a beaut. It is a 13.3-inch qHD offering which, thanks to a 3200 x 1800 pixel resolution and 275 pixels-per-inch image density, is both detailed and sharp.

The Q’s screen is vibrant and eye catching on first impressions, with colours proving expansive and with a pleasing level of subtlety. Brightness was impressive in the garishly artificial lighting of our hands-on environment, but will require further testing in a variety of conditions.

A screen to rival those on many ultrabooks, the Q’s display features strong viewing angles and its touch panel proved responsive and accurate during early tests.

Samsung ATIV Q Performance

The Samsung ATIV Q is a powerful hybrid device. With an Intel Core i5 processor at its heart, the Q also features backing from Intel 4400 HD Graphics and 4GB of RAM.

Windows 8 makes a good foundation for the Samsung ATIV Q, with Android present to provide some much needed glamour. Sadly, Samsung’s TouchWiz UI is missing, leaving plain old Android to hold the fort. Keeping things running smoothly across the two platforms, Android apps can be pinned to the Windows 8 homescreen, creating seamless shortcuts between the two content levels.

The Samsung ATIV Q’s performance is further enhanced with SideSync compatibility, letting you use your smartphone as a second screen. This requires further testing before we are able to pass judgement.

With a 128GB SSD providing ample storage, the Samsung ATIV Q claims a 9 hour battery life. We were unable to test this claim during our hands-on and so will take a further look in our full ATIV Q review in the near future.

Samsung ATIV Q First Impressions

The Samsung ATIV Q is a mixed bag of tricks. Slightly too chunky to work as a designated tablet, the additional convertible options are a serious boon to its credentials. Similarly, while the need for both Android and Windows 8 OSs might not be felt by many, it helps separate the Q’s business and pleasure attributes. The Samsung ATIV Q is, in short, an interesting device which we are intrigued to spend more time with.

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