The UK is running out of phone numbers according to Ofcom

Regulatory body Ofcom has suggested that the UK is running out of new phone numbers as new measures to deal with the impending shortages are revealed.

Suggesting that the rise in communication providers plying their trade in the UK is to blame for the mounting issue, Ofcom’s latest report has claimed that five major UK cities are facing the biggest strain on phone number availability, with new measures set to be introduced next year.

According to the report, Aberdeen, Bradford, Brighton, Middlesbrough and Milton Keynes are current closest to filling their quota of available phone numbers. Ofcom has revealed that from October 2014, residents in these areas could be forced to dial their area code when making local calls in order to “free up new numbers where supplies are running low.”

With 94 per cent of those questioned stating they would be untroubled by the proposed changes, the scheme which is already being trialled in Poole and Bournemouth could be rolled out nationally within the next decade.

"The number of communications providers has increased significantly over the last ten years, leading to more competition and cheaper landline bills for millions of homes and businesses," the Ofcom report stated.

It added: "But it has also led to increased pressure on the supply of new phone numbers.”

An official spokesperson for the regulatory body stated: "Requiring landline callers to use the code locally is intended to safeguard the future supply of new landline numbers and avoid the need for more disruptive measures, such as changing existing phone numbers.

"The cost of calls would not be affected, and those who dial without the area code after the change would hear a recorded message asking them to include it."

Read More: 4G operators announced by Ofcom

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Xbox One price cut by £45 with crafty coupon use

With the Xbox One price having caused a number of disgruntled gamers to baulk at the prospect of forking out £429, latest reports have suggested a £45 Xbox One price cut is possible with crafty coupon use.

Available at renowned toy retailer Toys R Us, the Xbox One price cut is made possible with cleaver use of a coupon loophole which sees the purchase of a £1 item yield 10 per cent off your next purchase. If looking to snap up a next-gen console this equates to roughly £45 off the Xbox One.

The same deal can be added to Sony’s upcoming gamer with customers able to get close to £40 off their PS4 pre-orders prior to the console’s arrival later this year.

Discovered by the deals based gaming blog Savvy Gamer, the Xbox One price cut offer has found that the purchase of certain items at Toys R Us sees consumers receive 10 per cent off their next shop. At present this can be used on both the Xbox One and PS4 although it is unclear if the retail chain will look to close this loophole. The cheapest item which will qualify you for the discount is a £1 Xia Xia shell.

Adding the Xbox One price cut, Microsoft’s next-gen console will set wannabe owners back just £383. Although still more than the PS4’s RRP, this figure brings the Xbox 360 replacement below that all-important £400 market. Toys R Us is already selling the Xbox One below its RRP at $420.

With the 10 per cent discount deal running until July 31, those buying qualifying items will then have until the end of August to make use of the money off deal and use the savings against an Xbox One or PS4.

The coupon loophole used against Sony’s console sees the PS4 price cut down to just £311

Read More: Xbox One vs PS4

Via: CVG

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Panasonic SC-BTT400 Audio Review

What is the Panasonic SC-BTT400?

The Panasonic SC-BTT400 is an entry-level home cinema package that brings you a complete surround sound system and Blu-ray player at a price that won’t break the bank. Unlike some of Panasonic’s latest systems that come with tall, imposing tower speakers, the SC-BTT400’s satellites are small and compact, making it ideal for those who don't want big boxes cluttering up their living room.

Obviously you miss out on many of the features found on Panasonic’s step-up systems like the SC-BTT500, but if you can live without frills the Panasonic BTT400 could be a good money-saver – you can find it for as little as £200 online.

Panasonic SC-BTT400 – Design

The SC-BTT400’s components are so compact that everything fits in a small box that you can just bung in the back of the car. In the box are four compact satellites, each measuring 143mm high, an elongated centre speaker (though still pretty small), a passive subwoofer and a Blu-ray receiver – the brains of the operation.

The Blu-ray receiver is a strikingly attractive unit and remarkably slim considering all the technology crammed inside. Panasonic’s designers deserve credit for giving this year’s systems a new lease of life with some subtle but effective touches – namely the sloping sides and silver strip running along the top edge.

As ever the gloss-black finish is sleek and stylish and overall build quality is good given the price, thanks to a robust aluminium casing. The front panel feels a little plasticky, but you’d expect that from a budget system. An LED display on the right hand side gives running time and other key information during playback, plus it also lets you adjust channel levels and sound modes without having to visit the setup menu.

The front and rear satellites are also styled in a plasticky but gorgeous-looking gloss-black finish. The sides taper toward the back panel, where you’ll find a pair of springclip cable terminals. They’re equipped with a 6.5cm full range cone driver and a Piezo type super tweeter, which are exposed on the front. They’re fairly solid and weighty for budget system speakers.

The Panasonic SC-BTT400’s front speakers are slightly smaller than those supplied with the step-up SC-BTT500, although the rears, centre and subwoofer are all identical.

The centre speaker is identically styled except it’s 280mm wide and uses two tweeters either side of the 6.5cm full range driver. The subwoofer is one of the smallest and cutest we’ve encountered – it should be a cinch to accommodate in even the smallest living room. It matches the satellites in its gleaming black finish, with a curvy front port catching the eye, although build quality is on the lightweight side.

Panasonic SC-BTT400 – Connections

The front panel plays host to an SD card slot and a USB port for playback of media files, but unlike the BTT500 there’s no flap to hide them away. On the back you’ll find a pared-down selection of sockets, again commensurate with the price. Naturally that includes an HDMI v1.4 output (both 3D and ARC compatible), but there are no HDMI inputs for channelling other components through the system – for that you’ll need to step up to the SC-BTT500.

There’s also an optical digital audio input, analogue stereo input, an Ethernet port, FM aerial input and a second USB port. The latter lets you connect Panasonic’s optional wireless LAN dongle or its Skype communication camera – obviously it can’t house both at the same time, so if you want to use Skype wirelessly you’ll need to connect the camera to the front USB port and put the LAN dongle in the back. Alternatively you can connect to the internet via Ethernet and connect the camera to the rear port.

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Motorola Moto X smartphone to be formally unveiled on August 1

The Motorola Moto X release date will be formally announced on August 1 as Motorola issues invites to the heavily rumoured phone’s official launch event.

Following weeks of endless rumours and countless leaks, Motorola has revealed that the eagerly awaited Moto X phone is set to enter the realms of reality in a matter of days as a launch event is scheduled to be held in New York City on August 1.

Adorned by a group of trendy looking ladies, the Motorola Moto X launch invite is simply emblazoned by the tilte ‘Moto X’ alongside that August 1 unveil date, New York location and an RSVP link. Within the image, two of the woman can be seen holding a mysterious handset, one in black the other in white.

Earlier this week it was suggested that the Motorola Moto X release date would see the phone enter retailers on August 26. Last week Google’s Eric Schmidt was photographed using a phone believed to be the currently unconfirmed Moto X.

Far from the only high-profile handset on the verge of becoming official, the Motorola Moto X will be unveiled less than a week before the LG G2. LG’s Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One rival will be officially announced at its own New York based launch event on August 7.

Recent Motorola Moto X rumours have pegged the American company’s return to the smartphone scene to be something of a mid-market effort. It has been claimed the phone will run a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

Expected to play host to a 720p HD display somewhere between 4.3-inches and 4.7-inches in size, the Moto X specs sheet is believed to see Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS feature from the box alongside a 10-megapixel rear-mounted camera, integrated NFC and 4G LTE connectivity options. A second, 2-megapixel snapper up front and a 1500mAH Lithium-Ion battery have also been tipped for inclusion.

Read More: iPhone 5 review

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South Park creators reject DLC for extra Stick of Truth content

South Park: The Stick of Truth

South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have pledged not to release extra material, scripted for the long-awaited 'The Stick Of Truth' game, in the form of downloadable content bundles.

Speaking on a Comic-Con panel on Thursday, Parker said he was pushed down the DLC route after the script for the game swelled to 850 pages.

According to a Polygon report, Parker said he was advised to "cut it [the script] down, cut it down, cut it down."

He added: "Everyone kept saying to us [make that extra content] DLC" a proclamation that was booed by fans during the discussion "I agree... f*** that," Parker retorted.

Instead all of the extra material penned by the show's creators could find its way into the TV series, which will return to our screens again this autumn.

"Somehow or another this s*** will get out there," said in typically profane fashion.

"We did have this whole delusion of actually incorporating the game into the season, but that sounds like a bitch. We really just wanted it to be that you could pick it up anywhere and it would kind of make sense."

The RPG, now in the hands of Ubisoft following THQ's demise into bankruptcy, is scheduled to launch in time for Christmas. The game is scheduled to launch for current-gen consoles and PC.

It returned to the public consciousness at the E3 expo when a new trailer (see below) aired during Ubi's press conference.

Via SlashGear

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Google Nexus 7 with Android 4.3, dual cameras to go on sale July 31?

The second iteration of Google's Nexus 7 tablet will officially go on sale on July 31, according to reports late on Friday.

A tip sent to Engadget claimed the device will hit US retailer Staples on the last day of the month, with stock arriving next Wednesday.

Earlier in the afternoon a separate leak lifted the lid on more potential modifications of the Google's best-selling, multi-award-winning 7-inch slate.

A leaked photo of an on-screen specs list offers evidence that the device will now have a 5-megapixel camera on the rear, to accompany a 1.2-megapixel front facing snapper.

The photo, also leaked to Engadget, suggests that, as expected, that the device will be fitted with the new Android 4.3 operating system out of the best.

It'll also be compatible with wireless charging accessories and a slim port will support 1080p HD content, when hooking the device up to a television set.

Expectations are that Google will lift the lid on the new slate at its 'breakfast with Sundar Pichai' event on Wednesday evening (UK time).

There we're expected to see Android 4.3, which leaked again on a Nexus 4 on Thursday night, revealed in its glory.

However, it isn't thought that the company will take the opportunity to expose the heavily-anticipated Moto X phone at the event.

What do you hope to see from Google next week? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Microsoft mocks iPad in latest Surface RT advert despite near $1bn stock write-downs

Microsoft has taken to poking fun at Apple’s iPad in the latest Microsoft Surface RT advert, despite the Windows 8 tablet forcing the company into $900 million worth of stock write-downs.

Although having confirmed nearly $1 billion worth of Surface based stock write-downs in its latest quarterly product call, Microsoft has had no qualms in bashing the market leading iPad while attempting to promote a number of features on the ailing Surface RT tablet.

Mimicking the voice of Apple’s Siri service, the Microsoft Surface RT advert shows the iPad bemoaning its limited features array, with the tablet’s lack of USB connection options, physical keyboard and integrated stand all coming in for criticism.

Recent figures have suggested Microsoft has sold just 260,000 Surface RT tablets to date, with stock overflow costing the company $900 million (£591m) in price reductions.

“We are working hard to deliver compelling new devices and high value experiences from Microsoft and our partners in the coming months, including new Windows 8.1 tablets and PCs”, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said during the company’s earnings call.

Amy Hood, CFO at Microsoft added: “While our fourth quarter results were impacted by the decline of the PC market, we continue to see strong demand for our enterprise and cloud offerings, resulting in record unearned revenue balance this quarter.”

Although the advert sees the iPad’s Siri dictator state “this isn’t going to end well for me is it?” based on Microsoft’s well publicised woes, it would appear that despite the advert’s bravado it is the Surface RT more than the Apple tablet facing a troubling end.

Read More: Microsoft Surface Pro review

Via: 9to5Mac

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Ouya US sales “relatively light for a new console”

Ouya sales in the US have been “relatively light for a new console”, according to the NPD Group’s monthly reports.

According to NPD and its sales tracker, the Kickstarter-funded Android console has only received a lukewarm response in the US, reflected in its sales figures.

“Retail sales for Ouya (not counting direct sales through ouya.tv) and were relatively light for a new console", said NPD analyst Liam Callahan. “This may be due to the lack of a major marquee title driving consumers to seek out the console, low awareness due to Ouya being a new brand, or low inventory volume due to manufacturing constraints.”

Released last month, the Ouya console started as a Kickstarter campaign, managing to raise nearly $8.6 million or £5.7 million for its design and production.

Ouya has now launched a new Kickstarter-based Free the Games Fund which offers $1 million to any game developers trying to create games for the Ouya console.

The company will match the funds generated by any Kickstarter campaign for an exclusive Ouya game launched between August 9 2013 and August 10 2013 that pledges between $50,000 (£32,900) and $250,000 (£164,000).

Despite its initial success, the Ouya console’s launch sales don’t seem to be as strong as expected.

For June, the Nintendo 3DS remained the best-selling videogame hardware device for the second month in a row. Nintendo claims its handheld console has sold nearly 225,000 this month.

The Xbox 360 is still the top home console, having shifted 140,000 units last month.

Overall hardware sales collectively accumulated $142 million, which unfortunately showed a 30 per cent loss over last year’s figures. This may well be due to the announcement of the Xbox One and PS4, meaning consumers are less likely to buy a new console before the next-gen versions are released.

Next, read our pick of the best games of 2013.

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Apple acquires location data company Locationary to improve Maps service

Apple has acquired Locationary, a crowdsourced location data startup company whose technology could be used to improve the Maps service.


Confirmed by Apple spokesperson Steve Dowling, the Locationary purchase is said to include all of its personnel and technology, but how much was paid for the company is still unknown.

Apple has a habit of buying smaller companies with unique services rather than major buyouts of well-known brands.

“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” said Dowling after confirming the Locationary purchase.

Apple currently uses Yelp for all its local business data, but should be able to use the Locationary technology to boost its Apple Maps service with accurate and up-to-date business data.

The launch of Apple Maps within iOS 6 last year sparked a high level of consumer outrage, after the service offered misnamed towns, missing roads, and poor journey planner results among other issues.

It got so bad that Apple CEO Tim Cook had to issue a rare apology for the disappointing service.

“At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers,” read Cook’s apology. “With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.”

He even managed to suggest iPhone users head to rival services like “Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps” through their website browsers.

Locationary uses crowdsourcing and a federated data exchange platform called Saturn to collect, merge and continuously verify a huge database of local businesses and other points of interest all over the world.

The company’s location technology also makes the information presented in Apple Maps accurate according to time, presenting the opening times of the business, even if it’s close for refurbishment.

Next, read what you can enjoy in Apple’s next mobile OS with our favourite iOS 7 features list.

Via: AllThingsD

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Olympus Pen E-P5 Camera Review

Introduction

Olympus has today announced Pen E-P5 – the latest addition to the manufacturer’s Pen series of Compact System Cameras.

The Olympus Pen E-P5 arrives as a straight replacement to the E-P3 in Olympus’s Pen range, offering a host of new features while also inheriting a selection from other Olympus models.

Olympus Pen E-P5 - Specs and Features

At the core of the Olympus Pen E-P5 sits a 16.1MP sensor, TruePic VI processing engine and 5-axis image stabilisation – a trio of features found in Olympus’s flagship OM-D E-M5 model.

As far new features, the Pen E-P5 is the first of Olympus’s CSC range to feature built-in Wi-Fi, wireless transfer of images and remote capture through a dedicated app.

Other new headline claims include the model’s maximum shutter speed. Olympus claims that the E-P5 is the first CSC to offer a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 sec through a mechanical shutter, as opposed to the electronic shutter found on the similarly-swift Nikon V2.

On the rear of the Olympus E-P5 sits a 3-inch, 1.04-million dot capacitive touchscreen. It’s similar to the screen found on the OM-D E-M5, but almost double the resolution.

Alongside from the core specs, the E-P5 sees a design overhaul. Olympus is keen to emphasise that the new model borrows heavily from Pen F film models, with an all-metal finish and selection of control dials around its body.

Olympus Pen E-P5 - Video Preview

Olympus Pen E-P5 - Handling and Hardware

We managed to get our hands on one of the first pre-production samples Olympus Pen E-P5 in the UK for a closer look.

The first thing to strike you upon picking up the camera is its large size. Although it’s just a few millimetres thicker that the E-P3 that it replaces on a straight specification comparison, it’s noticeably bulkier in the hand.

This added bulk may be in some small part due to the articulated display, and although it’s by no means a huge camera it might not suit those looking for a smaller CSC.

Despite this chunkiness, the Pen E-P5 generally handles and operates well. The dials found variously around the camera are of a good size and rotate freely, while the dedicated rubberised thumb rest on the rear of the camera is welcome.

The performance of the touchscreen on the rear of the camera is also a plus point. It offers a good level of sensitivity and only the gentlest touch is needed to scroll through the camera’s functions or pick a focus point.

The Olympus E-P5 display also offers a good clarity and contrast, and if you’re familiar with the screen of the OM-D E-M5 you’ll notice they’re in fact very similar in this regard.

Although we weren’t given a great amount of time to fully put the Olympus Pen E-P5 through its paces, we were able to get an early impression of the model’s new FAST AF focusing system. The good news is that it seems to live up to its name, with only a short amount of time needed before focus was acquired.



The Olympus Pen E-P5 looks like an interesting CSC that should provide an alternative to the OM-D E-M5 towards the top end of Olympus’s range. It should start shipping towards the end of June, although a UK RRP is yet to be confirmed.

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Battlefield 4 campaign mode details unveiled, introduces Tombstone Squad

EA has teased a range of new Battlefield 4 campaign mode details, confirming gamers will take control of Sergeant Daniel Recker, a member of the elite Tombstone squad.

Sent on a mission deep into Azerjaian, the latest Battlefield 4 story line previews have revealed gamers will be caught whilst looking to glean intelligence on a potential coup in China. The resulting furore will reportedly see World War 3 become a distinct possibility, with the Tombstone Squad again tasked with easing tensions.

Late last month developer DICE revealed that the Battlefield 4 campaign mode would be far less linear than that of its predecessor, with a selection of multiplayer elements able to be introduced at gamers’ discretion.

“There are signature multiplayer elements that we want to bring into single-player,” DICE’s General Manager Karl-Magnus Troedsson said of the upcoming game. “We want to give the player a choice. Do they want to go for the sneaky approach with a sniper rifle and a silenced pistol, or do they want to take the jeep and have the entire squad shoot at everything they see?”

Officially unveiled earlier this year, a Battlefield 4 release date has already been confirmed for both current and next-generation consoles, with the eagerly awaited first-person shooter to touch down for the upcoming Xbox One and PS4 consoles after hitting PS3 and Xbox 360 platforms.

The full Battlefield 4 campaign mode description as confirmed by EA reads as follows:

“In Battlefield 4, you take on the role of Sergeant Daniel Recker, member of an elite group of soldiers known as Tombstone squad. While on a mission to collect intelligence from a defecting Russian General in Baku, Azerbaijan, your squad is discovered and you must fight your way through waves of Russian troops in order to escape. Upon getting back to the USS Valkyrie, a Wasp class carrier, the intelligence you've retrieved confirms previous suspicions. The Chinese Admiral Chang is planning a coup in China, and if this happens, the Russians would back him up.

“With this intel secure, the USS Valkyrie sets a course for Shanghai. You and Tombstone squad are sent on a covert mission into the city to extract a group of VIP's. China is in uproar after the U.S. has been implicated in the assassination of Jin Jié, the future leader and voice for peace in China. Admiral Chang has cancelled elections and martial law has been declared. As U.S. and Russian naval forces position themselves off the coast of China, and the situation quickly escalates into a stare down akin to a tinderbox waiting for a spark.

“In Shanghai, protestors clash with police as the streets are filled with chaos and turmoil. Tombstone manages to find the VIP's, among them a CIA field operative known as Laszlo W. Kovic. With him is a mysterious individual that the Chinese military has been franticly searching for. Together with Kovic you fight your way out of Shanghai and back to the Valkyrie as countless civilians flee the city, many of which are brought aboard the Valkyrie as refugees. With communications dead, the Valkyrie sets course for Singapore to rendezvous with the USS Titan and the 7th US carrier group at their last known position. As you reach Singapore you are shocked to find a horrific scene of fire and mayhem. The flagship is sunk and its fleet is eradicated, and from this point on nothing is certain.”

Read More: Battlefield 4 Review – Hands-on

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Budget iPhone to launch in two varieties?

The budget iPhone may launch in two varieties, each with a different mid-range price point.

The two models, apparently codenamed Zenvo and Zagato/Bertone, will have slightly varying specs and a price point reflective of those changes.

Zenvo is supposedly the cheaper of the two and could pack a Samsung-made H5P dual-core processor. The leaks, which come in the form of a rather low-res and bizarre presentation, also suggest that the Zenvo model will have 1GB of RAM and have FDD 4G LTE and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.

The Zagato or Bertone model is said to pack a H6P dual-core processor also made by Samsung, with TDD 4G LTE and Bluetooth 4.0.

Both models will have a 4-inch screen, but the leak fails to give any further specs for the devices.

It did include further pictures of the colourful plastic back panels for the budget iPhone that have been doing the rounds of late.

As always, we should take these leaks with a pinch of salt, but the repeated appearance of the plastic backs could well be an indicator that these designs have an ounce of truth to them.

However, it could also just be a plastic case manufactured for a previous iPhone that is being used to draw the scent away from the real budget device.

The budget iPhone is tipped to launch in five colours and apparently will be made substantially from polycarbonate or other plastic.

It is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 and potentially the iPad mini 2 which could well arrive this year after all, the budget iPhone will be the mid-range alternative to the likes of the iPhone 5.

The budget iPhone could well run the newly announced iOS 7 operating system with a reduced specs sheet, including a smaller camera sensor and lacking a Retina display.



Next, tell us what Apple iWatch features you'd like to see.

Via: PhoneArena

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BBM for iOS and Android release date pegged for September

Officially announced at BlackBerry Live back in May, a BBM iOS and Android release date has now been pegged for September.

Stretching the previously confirmed ‘summer’ arrival for the app based messaging service, latest reports have now suggested that the BBM platform will take its first steps away from BlackBerry branded smartphones for the first time this September.

While BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins has remained tight-lipped on the matter, the company’s Managing Director of BlackBerry India, Sunil Lalvani has pointed to September as the final launch window for the new cross platform BBM apps.

“The service is coming to Android this summer. But summer as per North America, where it remains till September,” Lalvani said in a recent interview.

While the BBM iOS release is to see the WhatsApp rivalling free messaging service hit iPhone models, we revealed in an exclusive interview back in May that the iOS BBM app will not support iPad at launch.

“At this point it is iOS and Android, and that’s iOS phones running iOS 6 and higher,” Vivek Bhardwaj, Head of the BlackBerry Software Portfolio said.

Speaking directly with TrustedReviews during BlackBerry Live, he added: “Smartphone is our real focus and again it comes back to what BBM is. If you look BBM and the engagement and the activity, it’s because it is mobile, because people are on the go.”

Discussing why Apple’s tablet was off the cards he went on the add: “When you start looking at tablets, computers and other screens, the usage model changes and behaviour changes. For us right now the absolute focus is getting BBM onto smartphones.”

Read More: BlackBerry Q5 Review

Via: GeekyGadgets

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Xbox One and PS4 pre-orders “twice the size” of previous consoles, says Ubisoft CEO

Xbox One and PS4 pre-orders are currently “twice the size of last generation” console figures, according to the Ubisoft CEO.

Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, predicts that early adoption of the next-generation consoles will be very positive, especially when looking at the pre-order figures for the Xbox One and PS4.

In comparison to the Xbox 360 and PS3, the next-generation console pre-order figures are double which sounds promising for a good installed user base come launch.

“Some retailers, but not all of them, are saying pre-orders two times than what they saw in the last generation launch,” said Guillemot. “They’re getting more pre-orders than what they saw before.”

Speaking during the Ubisoft earnings call, a Ubisoft representative further clarified on the topic, adding that the first Christmas install base “will be double” that of the last generation equivalents.

Microsoft has also confirmed that the Xbox One pre-orders are ahead of the figures achieved by the Xbox 360 when it was in the same pre-release stages.

“Xbox One, which will launch this fall, has already seen impressive pre-order sales as consumers have signed up to be the first to receive the new system,” said Microsoft in a US June sales update. “In fact, Xbox One pre-orders are trending ahead of Xbox 360 pre-orders during the same time period and have already sold out at most major US retailers.”

Earlier this month, the American arm of Amazon announced it had sold out of both the Xbox One and PS4 Day One Editions, meaning anyone wishing to get their next-gen consoles on launch day from the retailer will be out of luck.

As for the next-generation Ubisoft titles like Assassin’s Creed 4 and Watch Dogs, Guillemot says “pre-orders are going really well” and are “in [the] top five for most pre-ordered games.”



Next, read our Xbox One vs PS4 comparison.



Via: CVG

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LG HOM-BOT Square Vacuum Cleaners Review

What is the LG Hom-Bot Square?

The LG Hom-Bot Square is LG's latest robot vacuum cleaner. It's smart enough to learn the most efficient way through your home following initial uses, and has a HEPA filter making it ideal for allergy sufferers. Like most robot vaccum cleaners, it's all about cleaning little and often when you're out.

At £450 the LG Hom-Bot Square is far from cheap, but is this the first sign of a viable robot vacuum cleaner? We find out.

LG Hom-Bot Square: Design

LG’s Hom-Bot Square is not the utilitarian slab of lifeless matt plastic you might expect from such an appliance. It is available in a selection of colours including black and red, and has a patterned gloss finish that is easy on the eye. This gloss finish, however, is prone to fingerprints and attracts wayward dust like a magnet, meaning a quick wipe down is required after every use.

The Square’s design oozes just enough space age appeal to befit a robotic gadget, without looking over the top. It lacks the chunky bumpers found on some of its rivals, such as the iRobot Roomba 780, and is a trendy, aesthetically pleasing vacuum that won’t look out-of-place in any modern abode. At less than 3kg in weight it is also easily manoeuvrable.

At just a smidge under 9cm in height, the LG Hom-Bot Square is relatively compact. Although this slimline design provides storage benefits, it is not without its issues. The low profile means a low ground clearance, something which, as we found out (and will discuss later), is not necessarily an ideal attribute for a robot vacuum cleaner.

The rugged wheels on the Square’s base offer traction on all surfaces, with the compact robot able to scuttle across polished wood, tile and carpeted floors with equal aplomb.

LG has focussed its design efforts on the Square’s base station too. This charging point is compact and relatively discreet. It even features a handy cut out for storing the Square’s remote control, a small addition that makes a big difference. The Square’s removable dust tray is on the small side buts sits discreetly under the unit’s pop-up hood.

LG Hom-Bot Square Features

This robot vacuum cleaner is far from a one trick pony. The LG Hom-Bot Square’s features list is blossoming with all manner of performance enhancing additions, including the tantalisingly named ‘Turbo’ button, which boosts suction power. It has seven automated Smart Cleaning modes.

The standard ‘Zigzag’, ‘Cell’ and ‘Spiral’ modes all work well in their own, specific ways, with the Spiral option proving ideal for tackling spillages. On top of this, scheduled cleaning and timer modes are simple to use and highlight the true benefits of a robot vacuum over traditional, manual models.

The Square’s schedule cleaning options are a breeze to navigate and instigate using the vac’s touch sensitive controls. With a cleaning time and frequency set, the Square kicks into life without further prompting, meaning you can, in theory at least, always return to a clean home. These timer mode features work like a charm, with the latest Hom-Bot never-failing to miss a scheduled clean during our time with the product.

One of the LG Hom-Bot Square’s party pieces is its ‘My Space’ cleaning feature. This option lets you manually set a defined area for cleaning (say the section of kitchen floor around your chopping board and oven) and can be activated as and when required.

Upon prompting, the Hom-Bot will scoot straight to its targeted zone before getting to work. Sadly the LG Hom-Bot Square can only store one My Space based pre-set at a time. It's a brilliantly handy addition, so it would be useful if you could have more.

The LG Hom-Bot Square’s remote is another brilliant addition. It is a small, plastic unit that is comfortable but which, most importantly, manages to turn vacuuming into an entertaining game of sorts. With direction controls and menu selection buttons, the remote lets you drive the Square like a sort of low slung RC car with OCD issues. Even after a couple of hours’ worth of total use, this remote driving feature still filled us with a sense of omnipotent power and joy.

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Second person reportedly electrocuted by charging iPhone

A 30-year-old man in China has reportedly become the second person in a matter of days to have been severely electrocuted by a charging iPhone.

Said to have been in a coma for 10 days, the man is reported to have been charging his iPhone 4 with a third-party charger earlier this month when he received a serious electric shock. Earlier this week it was announced that a Chinese woman had died after been electrocuted by a charging iPhone 5.

According to reports from the Beijing Evening News, a Mr Wu Jian Tong was “suddenly shocked” by his iPhone 4 when attempting to plug it in to charge using a “counterfeit” charger. The Chinese government recently warned residents over the risks of a recent raft of potentially questionable third-party smartphone accessories that have been doing the rounds in the country.

A translation of reports has suggested that Mr Wu shouted “I’m getting shocked” as he connected his phone and was round unresponsive and not breathing when attended to by medical teams at the scene. Having required CPR, Wu is said to have been in a coma for ten days.

With the man’s doctor quoted as stating: “It was no doubt an electric shock,” Wu’s sister has relayed the events to reporters in China.

Describing how she attempted to unplug the device, she said: "I then felt needle-like pains on my fingertips. The current was running from my finger, through to my arm and body, and to the foot."

On Monday it emerged a 23-year-old woman had died last month after trying to make a call using her charging iPhone 5.

In an official statement earlier this week, Apple confirmed that it would fully cooperate and work with authorities to help investigate the claims of the iPhone electrocutions.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of this tragic incident and offer our condolences to the Ma family,” an official spokesperson for the iPad mini manufacturer stated. “We will fully investigate and cooperate with authorities in this matter."

Read More: iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S4

Via: Apple Insider

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Best soundbars to buy 2013

If you’ve had enough of the poor quality sound from your HDTV and you're on the hunt for the best soundbar to buy, you’ve come to the right place.

So what is a TV soundbar? Well, it’s a slim speaker system that can sit below or near your TV. The technology packed inside can deliver a surround sound experience minus the clutter of 5.1 surround sound speakers dotted around the room.

Whether you are watching a film on Blu-ray, streaming content from Lovefilm or playing Call of Duty on your Xbox One, a soundbar can take your home entertainment domain to the next level.

Most soundbars are 2.1 channel sound setups. That means you’ll get two speakers and a separate subwoofer. There are of course the few exceptions that bundle subwoofer and speakers all into one device.

Beyond hooking it up to a TV, soundbars can offer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity to stream content from smartphones, tablets and computers. Physical connections can include USB ports to plug in external hard drives, HDMI inputs and outputs to support full HD and 3D TV playback.

There’s plenty out there to choose from and we want to help you find which soundbar is right for you. So if space is at a premium, and you are ready to break free from the snaking cables, read on.

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Google confirms 1.5 million daily Android activations

Google co-founder and CEO Larry Page has confirmed that the company’s Android mobile operating system now receives more than 1.5 million daily activations.

Making the announcement during the company’s quarterly profits call, Page revealed that as consumers continue to move from PC to mobile computing, Google has taken charge, with more than 900 million Android powered devices now doing the rounds globally.

Describing the changing trend of the increasing mobile technology market as a “tremendous opportunity,” Page revealed that with 1.5 million Android devices being activated daily, Google expects to hit the staggering 1 billion Android device activations before the year’s end.

"That’s pretty amazing given the first Android phone launched less than five years ago," Google’s CEO said during the profits call. He went on to announce the company had achieved revenue figures of $14 billion (£9.2bn) for the second three months of the year.

Foundation for many of the world’s current range of leading smartphones, Google’s Android operating system is run on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One and Sony Xperia Z.

Having built on its smartphone foundations, Android is now used as the operating system for all manner of portable devices, from the tablet likes of the Google Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, to cameras, convertibles and even in-car systems.

With the latest iteration of Google’s mobile software, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, having launched alongside the impressively priced Google Nexus 4 late last year, it has been widely rumoured that the next rendition, Android 4.3 will be formally unveiled next week.

With Google having teased a July 24 event, it has been suggested Android 4.3 Jelly Bean will enter the realms of reality alongside a revised, second-generation Google Nexus 7 tablet.

Read More: Google Nexus 7 vs iPad mini

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Netflix makes history as first streaming service to get Emmy nominations

House of Cards, the first original TV series from streaming service Netflix, has received nine nominations for Emmy Awards, including best drama.

The nominations mark the first time an Internet streaming service has ever received award recognition.

Netflix is the first ever streaming service to receive Emmy award nominations, meaning it and other internet streaming services have the potential to compete with the major network broadcasters at a top level.

The Netflix original series House of Cards achieved nine Emmy nominations, but in total Netflix received 14.

Subscription channels and now Netflix dominated the Emmy nominations for this year, so much so that traditional broadcast channels didn’t get a look in for the second year running.

“It’s a reflection of how consumers are now watching television”, said Bruce Rosenblum, President of Television and Digital for Legendary Entertainment and Chairman of the Academy. “The more that the teams at Netflix and Yahoo and Amazon and Hulu develop and produce great episodic storytelling, that’s what will motivate more people to produce for those platforms.”

The series itself is up for best drama while Kevin Spacey, the star of House of Cards, has been nominated for Best Actor. Robin Wright, who plays Spacey’s wife, earned a Best Actress nomination and David Fincher is up for Best Director in a drama series.

“If there ever was a perception that Netflix was handicapped in gaining critical recognition for its programs, that ended today,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix CEO. “The best writers, directors and actors know they can participate in the highest quality programs on Netflix and still be recognised by their peers.”

Netflix’s other nominations are for Arrested Development, with Jason Bateman up for Lead Actor in a comedy series and the other nominations in music and picture editing.

The fourth season of Arrested Development was shown exclusively on Netflix, airing for the first time on May 26. All fifteen episodes of the long awaited fourth series were made available at once, which meant many engaged in extensive amounts of binge viewing.

“It no longer matters how a show is delivered, whether it’s over time on a network or all at once on Netflix,” added Sarandos.

Next, read our pick of the best TVs of 2013 .

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iPad mini 2 with Retina display coming this year after all?

We could see the iPad mini 2 with Retina display this year after all, with fresh reports suggesting that LG has overcome its manufacturing issues.

Earlier this week, the ever-erratic Taiwanese tech industry daily Digitimes claimed that the iPad mini 2 would be launched this year - but without the Retina display that many had predicted.

Rather, it was claimed, the Retina-equipped mini would be delayed until 2014.

Now the publication itself has changed its view on the iPad mini 2 Retina situation, claiming that it will be released this year after all.

According to the usual "industry sources," LG has made headway on the technical issues it was having in producing an iPad mini-sized Retina display.

It's claimed that LG "expects to ship about 2-3 million units a month in preparation for Apple's expected October release date."

Most are expecting the iPad mini 2 to be even lighter and thinner than the already-svelte iPad mini (which is only 7.2mm thick) with a smaller bezel. Despite this, we're expecting a performance upgrade courtesy of an improved processor.

The report also supports suggestions that the fifth generation iPad will be lighter and thinner than the iPad 4, thanks partly to the fact that it will have "only one light tube in its backlight instead of two."

With the iPhone 5S and an all-new budget iPhone set to launch over the coming months, late 2013 could well be an incredibly busy release schedule for Apple.

Next, read our iPad mini tips and tricks.

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VLC for iOS returns universal video format support to iPhone and iPad

VLC has returned to the iOS App Store after a two year absence, restoring the ability to play all video file types on your iPhone or iPad.

If you've got a library of video content on your hard drive dating back a number of years, there's a good chance that some of them belong to formats that aren't supported by your iOS device. In such cases, your only real option is to go through and laboriously convert such files to a compatible format.

VLC is an open source video playback app from VideoLAN that enables you to play pretty much any video file format on an iOS device. Because of its open source origins, it's free to download.

Way back at the end of 2010, the original VLC for iOS app was released onto the App Store, and then swiftly pulled due to legal technicalities.

Now the app is back on the App Store, and in an all new version 2.0 guise. The main addition relates to syncing your media to your iOS device - it's now a whole lot easier thanks to AirPlay and Dropbox support.

Subtitles are supported, as are network streams, and you can also control video playback speeds.

All you need to run VLC for iOS is an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 5.1 or later installed on it.

VLC for iOS is available to download now on the UK App Store, and as stated it's completely free.

Read: Best Mobile Phones 2013

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Panasonic TX-L42FT60 TV Review

What is the Panasonic TX-L42FT60?

The Panasonic L42FT60 is a 42-inch, 3D-capable TV that sits just above the centre of Panasonic’s latest LCD range, between the previously tested Panasonic DT65 series and ET60 series. It also carries Panasonic’s widely acclaimed new My Home Screen Smart TV interface, and a seriously attractive design. It's also available in 47-inch and 55-inch sizes.

But will it turn out to be one of those mid-range models that struggles to justify its existence in a range, or will it turn out to offer a perfect balance of features, performance and value?

Panasonic L42FT60 - Design & Connections

Its design certainly gets the L42FT60 off to a fine start. Its frame is slim – barely 1cm across – and highly attractive with its silvery metallic finish. It also sports the fetching open ‘V Neck’ stand attachment found on the more expensive DT65 series, while a see-through wing along the bottom edge helps further the sense that the screen is so light it’s floating.

Connectivity is solid. Multimedia users are well catered for, with three USBs, an SD card slot, and built-in Wi-Fi and LAN options for adding the TV to your network. The network connections can be used for taking the TV online with Panasonic’s Viera Connect service, or streaming a good selection of video, photo and music file formats from networked PCs.

The one connection disappointment is that you only get three HDMIs when most rival TVs at this level of the market offer four.

Panasonic TX-L42FT60 - Smart TV

You can read our in-depth Panasonic Smart TV review for a full, blow-by-blow look at Panasonic's smart TV system, so we’ll limit ourselves here to saying it could do with more video content providers (especially UK catch-up services), while My Home Screen is possibly the friendliest and certainly the most customisable smart TV interface we’ve seen to date.

It’s great, too, to find the Smart TV interface supported by a likeably comprehensive and well-organised app for iOS and Android devices.

The L42FT60 does not join the DT65 series in shipping with one of Panasonic’s touchpad remote controls, however, though given the highly questionable design of this remote it’s no great loss to the L42FT60.

More of a pity is the L42FT60’s use of a single tuner versus the twin tuner setup that kicks in with the DT65 series, as this means you can’t enjoy the multi-screen viewing options possible on the twin-tuner models.

Panasonuc TX-L42FT60 - Features

Looking for other specification differences that define the L42FT60’s position between Panasonic’s more expensive DT65 and cheaper ET60 models, it chiefly differs from the DT65 series in not having a local dimming system to boost the contrast delivered by its edge LED lighting array.

And it differs from the ET60 series by sporting a 1600Hz BLS (Backlight Scanning) panel driving system versus the cheaper model’s 600Hz BLS system; by supporting Panasonic’s new Hexa picture processing engine; by having earned the backing of image calibration experts the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF); and by supporting Panasonic’s significant 1080p Pure Direct and Super Clear Resolution processing modes.

As with all Panasonic TVs with a T in their name, the Panasonic L42FT60 supports passive 3D playback (active has been written out of Panasonic’s LCD story this year), and you get two pairs of glasses included free.

This seems a little stingy given how cheap passive 3D glasses are, but we guess it allows Panasonic to sneak in another small point of difference with the step-up DT65 models, which offer four pairs of free glasses.

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Samsung teases an 'enhanced' eight-core Exynos 5 processor

Samsung will reveal its latest Exynos innovations next week

Samsung will reveal an enhanced version of its Exynos 5 Octa system-on-a-chip next week, the company confirmed on Thursday.

The original iteration of the eight-core processor made headlines for all the right reasons when it was launched in January at CES 2013 in Las Vegas.

However, despite announcing the flagship Samsung Galaxy S4 with the Exynos Octa 5, Samsung upset European and American fans by only launching the quad-core variant in western territories.

Now in a tweet sent out by the official Samsung Exynos account on Thursday, the company announced that the processor has been improved to become even more powerful than before.

Who knows? Perhaps we'll even see this version of the chip land in devices bound for Blighty like the rumoured forthcoming Galaxy Note 3 update?

The company said: "A new Exynos 5 Octa is coming next week!"

"Year after year, we strive to improve the power and performance of our Exynos processors. Now it's time for the next step in our evolution - a more powerful, enhanced Exynos 5 Octa!"

The Exynos 5 is based on UK chip designer ARM's BIG.little technology. It has two quad-core CPUs, one to do the heavy lifting and another to handle the more mundane, low powered task. The overall effect is dramatic performance enhancements and longer lasting battery life.

We're interested to see what Samsung has up its sleeve next week and can only hope it'll be boosting UK-bound devices in the near future.

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Android 4.3 appears on Nexus 4 sold by Google employee

Any lingering doubts that the arrival of Android 4.3 is imminent were cast aside after the long-awaited update arrived on a Nexus 4 handset sold by a Google employee.

The recipient of the device, Jeff Williams, who snapped it up on US used goods site Craigslist a couple of weeks ago, prompty checked the software version and found Android 4.3 Jelly Bean listed in the phone's settings app.

Williams posted a screenshot on an Android developers site, who deemed it legitimate and helped him extract the software and make it available for others to install on their handsets.

However, those who have installed the update on their Nexus 4 handsets, including the good folks at Android Central who posted the video below, aren't reporting too many changes from Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

The build brings OpenGL Enhanced 3.0 graphics (the new mobile standard), which should benefit gaming, more efficient, low-powered Bluetooth LE connectivity and improved touch sensitivity for the Nexus 4.

The new camera interface that previously appeared on a Google Edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4 handset also appears within this new leaked built. The arced options interface allows users to toggle shooting settings quickly and easily without entering a separate menu.

Beyond that, most other changes detailed in this particular build of Android 4.3 appear to be back-end updates or tools for developers, with the average smartphone user unlikely to see much difference.

There was also no sign of the Open Mic always-on voice command feature which has been showcased in leaked videos previewing the forthcoming Moto X phone. It is possible that it hadn't been added to this particular build of Android 4.3, and will be present in the final version. However, it may turn out to be a Moto X exclusive feature.

The update is expected to be officially unveiled at a Google event next week, with members of the media invited to breakfast with Android chief Sundar Pichai on July 24.

Via CNET

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 release teased by developer CV

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 teased

A developer at Sledgehammer Games has suggested next year could see a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 release land, mentioning the title as a work in progress on his CV.

With Call of Duty: Ghosts set to hit retailers later this year for current and next-generation consoles, Sledgehammer Games’ Senior VXF Artist Robert Valdivia has suggested publisher Activision will revert to a more established sub franchise in 2014, with the next COD offering to land in the form of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.

Although the development studio has yet to confirm the nature of its next project, Valdivia, who joined Sledgehammer Games in April, has suggested last year’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 release will be superseded next year by the numerically superior Modern Warfare 4.

Teasing the title through his personal LinkedIn profile, Valdivia wrote: “I am a Senior VFX Artist from Los Angeles but currently residing in the San Francisco bay area. I work at Sledgehammer Games where I’m responsible for developing photo real visual effects for the next Call of Duty – Modern Warfare release.”

Having been spotted by VG247, all reference to a future Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 release has since been removed from Valdivia’s LinkedIn profile.

Officially announced in recent months, the upcoming Call of Duty: Ghosts release will see the globally dominant COD franchise take a break from flitting between the Modern Warfare and Black Ops sub series. Set to touch down for the Xbox 360 and PS3 this autumn, Activision has already revealed the game will be made available to early adopters of both the Xbox One and PS4 when the two future consoles go on sale ahead of the Christmas period.

Earlier this week the Executive Producer on Call of Duty: Ghosts, Mark Rubin, confirmed further details of the game’s multiplayer features would land next month.

“We are in our death march push to finish [Call of Duty: Ghosts]. Lots left to do. Looking forward to MP in August,” he said via Twitter.

Read More: Best Games 2013

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Ouya promises to match Kickstarter funds for game developers

Ouya is launching a $1 million Kickstarter campaign in August to support developers creating games for the new Android console.

Any funds raised by game developers working on exclusive titles for the Ouya will have their figures matched by the company as part of its new $1 million Kickstarter campaign.

Starting on August 9, Ouya and its CEO Julie Uhrman will match the funds of any game developers pledging between $50,000 (£32,9000) and $250,000 (£164,000) on Kickstarter to mark the one-year anniversary of its own Kickstarter campaign.

“There are two reasons why Ouya is on retail store shelves today: we had an innovative idea to build an affordable and open games console for the television, and we found fans who support our idea and provided the funds to make it happen,” said Uhrman.

The fund matching will continue until all of the $1 million “Free the Games Fund” has been spent or August 10 2014 rolls around, whichever comes soonest. The funding will only apply to Kickstarter campaigns launching during that window.

“Since then, we’ve seen dozens of great games launch on Kickstarter, and now we are in the enviable position of being able to give back and secure the best, exclusive games for Ouya.”

In addition to the financial requirements, the developer must also keep the title as an Ouya exclusive for at least six months in order to qualify.

As an added incentive, Ouya is promising an extra reward for the campaign that raises the most money.

“The kicker, at the end, is whichever raises the best will get a $100,000 bonus. We’re saying, ‘hey, you’re a rock star!’,” added Uhrman.

The Ouya console itself started as a Kickstarter campaign baby, managing to raise nearly $8.6 million (£5.7 million) for the design and production of the little Android console.

This far surpassed the $950,000 (£624,000) the company had initially thought it had required to make the Ouya, which made it one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns.



Next, read our Xbox One vs PS4 comparison.

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TalkTalk offers £1.25 per month cheapest smartphone contract

Bit part network provider TalkTalk has announced its latest initiative to rival the industry’s big boys, introducing a new £1.25 per month smartphone contract deal.

Looking to undercut the competition, TalkTalk has revealed its latest contract deals in partnership with Chinese handset manufacturer Huawei, with a range of budget phones now available on a variety of cut-price contracts.

Pairing the entry level Huawei Ascend Y210 with a wallet-friendly TalkTalk Small Plan tariff, those after a smartphone on the cheap will be able to pay a mere £1.25 per month for the first six months, jumping to just £5 per month for the remaining 18 months of the deal.

For this minimal outlay, adopters will see their free handset paired with a modest usage allowance, with 100 anytime, any network minutes coming bundles with 250 inclusive texts and a 100MB monthly data allowance.

“It’s amazing that TalkTalk customers can now enjoy all the benefits of a smartphone, like being able to check emails and look up maps on the go, for less than it costs to catch a bus in most parts of Britain,” Dan Meader, Mobile Director at TalkTalk said.

He added: “This is another example of TalkTalk and Huawei working together to bring lower prices and better value to British customers.”

For those after a little more power in their device, £3.75 per month will bag you the mid-market Huawei Ascend G510 alongside the TalkTalk Medium Plan which includes 300 monthly minutes, 3,000 texts and 500MB of data. This deal will jump to £10 per month following the first six months.

Read More: Huawei Ascend Mate Review

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Budget iPhone shown next to a colourful iPhone 5

budget iPhone and iPhone 5

The budget iPhone has been snapped again, this time next to a modded colourful iPhone 5 showing how the two devices will compare.

New images of the budget iPhone show how the mid-range device will compare in size and shape to the flagship iPhone 5, shown here with a modified purple casing.

Coming courtesy of iOS developer and proven reliable source, Sonny Dickson, on his Twitter account, the budget iPhone looks to have the same 4-inch screen as the iPhone 5 as it matches the flagship’s height and width.

However, the budget iPhone does look to be slightly thicker than the iPhone 5 due to its price-reducing plastic body.

Tipped to launch in five colours, Dickson also tweeted a few more pictures of the green and white colour options that can be seen below.

According to a recently leaked budget iPhone hands on video, the smartphone “will be made substantially from plastic (we can feel it’s actually polycarbonate materials). It will have a 4-inch screen, like the iPhone 5, and interestingly, the budget iPhone actually has a shape that’s similar to Apple’s original iPod.”

Apple is expected to launch the budget iPhone in September alongside the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 or iPad 5.

All will potentially come pre-installed with the new iOS 7 unveiled at WWDC last month, with the iPhone 4 specs still largely unknown.

iPhone 5S Rumours

The next Apple flagship iPhone 5S could have a bigger screen, introducing a 4.3-inch Retina display to upgrade the 4-inch variety found on the iPhone 5.

The latest rumours suggest the iPhone 5S will have a quad-core PowerVR SGX 554MP4 GPU coupled with a higher clocked A6 CPU and 2GB of RAM.

It could have an improved 12-megapixel camera in the rear with a dual LED flash and better 4G LTE connectivity.

Next, read why you should care about a cheaper iPhone.

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