Samsung Galaxy Gear now free with the Note 3

High street retailer Phones 4u has started offering the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch for free when buying a Samsung Galaxy Note 3, a saving of £300.

With the Samsung-branded, Android-powered smartwatch having got off to something of a rocky start to life, failing to fully capture consumers’ attentions, the costly Samsung Galaxy Gear is now being bundled with the manufacturer’s latest phablet offering.

Available for a limited time only, Phones 4u has confirmed that it will be giving away free Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatches until November 14. The techy timepiece will be packaged with the Note 3 when the handset is taken out on contract.

With the Samsung Galaxy Gear having been unveiled at IFA 2013 earlier this year, the camera and speaker incorporating, smartphone syncing wrist wear was until this week compatible only with the Note 3. Earlier this week a Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 update bring Gear compatibility to the flagship phone.

While the Samsung Galaxy Gear, which lets you receive texts and calls to your wrists, is priced at £300 on its own, the smartwatch started at a disadvantage to the rival Sony Smartwatch 2 which came free with a Sony Xperia Z1 from the start.

Last month it was suggested that the Samsung Galaxy Gear was suffering from 30 per cent return rates as early adopters quickly became unenamoured with the touchscreen hosting gadget.

In our recent Samsung Galaxy Gear review we awarded the smartwatch just 4/10 stating it “is under supported, overpriced and feels like a rushed effort, made to beat the competition, and rumoured competition, that has failed to achieve its potential.”

Next, read all the latest Samsung Galaxy S5 news and rumours

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Apple attempted BlackBerry buyout before being blocked

Apple is said to have shown interest in buying out BlackBerry before being blocked be the board of the ailing Canadian handset maker.

One of a number of company’s who are reported to have enquired into taking over the struggling maker of the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 handsets, Apple’s interest is said to have been blocked by the BlackBerry board as they sought independent investment.

Citing “sources briefed on the matter,” news house Reuters has reported that Apple showed an interesting in acquiring BlackBerry in order to capitalise on the company’s patents and intellectual property rights. Other company’s known to have looked into a BlackBerry buyout include Microsoft and Lenovo.

According to the sources: “The board rejected proposals from several technology companies for various BlackBerry assets on grounds that a break-up did not serve the interest of all stakeholders, which include employees, customers and suppliers in addition to shareholders, said the sources, who did not want to be identified as the discussions were confidential.”

Earlier this week BlackBerry announced that it was no longer looking for a takeover buyer having secured around $1 billion worth of investment.

With leading shareholder and investment firm Fairfax Financial Holdings pitching in some $250 million, BlackBerry has suggested that the investment will allow the company to continue operating in a manner that will better benefit all parties involved.

Despite coming out of sale, BlackBerry has decided to sack CEO Thorsten Heins, less than two years after the German took the reins of the company.

"Today's announcement represents a significant vote of confidence in BlackBerry and its future by this group of pre-eminent, long-term investors," Barbara Stymiest, chair of BlackBerry's board said. "The BlackBerry Board conducted a thorough review of strategic alternatives and pursued the course of action that it concluded is in the best interests of BlackBerry and its constituents, including its shareholders.”

She added: “This financing provides an immediate cash injection on terms favourable to BlackBerry, enhancing our substantial cash position. Some of the most important customers in the world rely on BlackBerry and we are implementing the changes necessary to strengthen the company and ensure we remain a strong and innovative partner for their needs.

“On behalf of the Board, I would also like to thank Thorsten for his service to BlackBerry over the past six years,” Stymiest stated. “Under his leadership, BlackBerry established a more efficient cost structure, developed new products, saw the adoption of BES 10 and delivered the BlackBerry 10 platform. These are all significant accomplishments. We are grateful for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

The company added: “Today’s announcement marks the conclusion of the review of strategic alternatives previously announced on August 12, 2013.”

Read More: iPad Air review

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Panasonic TX-L42DT65 TV Review

What is the Panasonic TX-L42DT65?

The Panasonic L42DT65 is a 42-inch LCD TV that sits just one step from the top of Panasonic’s latest HD LCD TV range. Its edge LED lighting features local dimming, its panel is driven by a ‘1600Hz’ engine, it’s 3D capable and its operating system benefits from Panasonic’s excellent My Home Screen interface. It's also available in 47-inch, 50, 55 and 60-inch sizes, making this the smallest set in the range.

SEE ALSO: 10 best TVs you can buy

Panasonic TX-L42DT65: Design and Features

The L42DT65 is quite a looker. Its gleaming metal bezel is as slim as it is glamorous, and the set’s rear continues the super-skinny theme to potent effect. The heavy metal stand is a work of art, too.

The L42DT65’s strong first impressions take a slight hit as it turns out the set only has three HDMIs when we expect four these days. But there’s some good connection news too, in the shape of both LAN and Wi-Fi network connections (which support DLNA streaming and online browsing) plus three USBs and an SD card slot for playing back a wide variety of photo, music and video file formats – or for time-shifting from the set’s built-in Freesat and Freeview HD tuners.

Day-to-day use of the Panasonic L42DT65 brings you into regular contact with Panasonic’s My Home Screen interface. So it’s great to find this interface proving arguably this generation’s most friendly Smart TV system, combining a simple structure with plenty of onscreen instructions and the ability to create customised ‘home screens’ for all members of your family containing just direct links to their preferred content sources.

It’s a pity these content sources don’t include more of the UK’s most popular services – there’s no LoveFilm, no ITV Player, no 4OD, and no Demand 5 for instance – but overall, with the interface taken into account, Panasonic’s Smart offering is a pretty good one. For full details check out our Panasonic Smart TV review.



The L42DT65’s specification is pretty potent. Its edge LED lighting system boasts a local dimming element, while a combination of a 100Hz panel, backlight scanning and frame interpolation processing delivers a 1600Hz-like motion effect. The set also gets Panasonic’s new, powerful Hexa Processing system, and delivers passive 3D playback. Four pairs of 3D glasses are included free with the TV.

Look upwards to Panasonic’s WT65 TVs and the motion processing becomes 3600Hz while the local dimming system works across 16 separate sectors versus just five on the L42DT65. But still, on paper at least the L42DT65 does enough to justify its £1100 price.

Panasonic TX-L42DT65: Set Up

Panasonic has equipped this relatively high-end TV with enough picture calibration tools to earn the endorsement of the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) – complete with two ‘professional’ picture memories an ISF engineer could use to set up night and day presets. If you’d rather have a stab at setting pictures up yourself, while the onscreen set up menus are a bit drab their structure is reasonably straightforward.

The L42DT65 scores a hit, too, with its initial setup menus, which guide you through all the key stages extremely well. And then there’s the previously mentioned My Home Screen system, which provides a brilliantly simple means of customising the TV’s home screen(s). Trying to set the L42DT65 up to get the best out of its pictures is tricky, though.



There are a few obvious moves, such as deactivating all noise reduction for HD sources, and limiting the Intelligent Frame Creation motion processing to its Minimum level, or leaving it off entirely, especially if you’re watching a Blu-ray. Where the difficulties come is in trying to overcome the L42DT65’s contrast problems.

Obviously we’ll discuss this further in the picture quality section, but briefly the issues come with balancing the pros and cons of the various settings for the provided Adaptive Backlight and Brilliance Enhancer (local dimming) controls while attempting to combat the panel’s noticeable lack of native black level response.

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Twitter launches alpha test program for Android

Twitter is launching a test program that will allow users of its Android app to have a direct say on the future direction of the social network.

The company launched a beta program back in August whereby Android users could try out early versions of the Twitter app. The idea was to test out possible features ahead of their adoption (or otherwise) into the app proper.

Now Twitter is taking the test one step further, with a so-called alpha program that "will include earlier iterations of experiments."

The program will allow participants to provide direct feedback on the new features, and to collaborate with Twitter via a dedicated forum.

It’s this extra level of involvement that really sets the new alpha program apart from the previous one. Before, users would get a new software version and that would be that. Aside from the ability to file bug reports, there was no potential for interaction with the developers.

Now testers will be able to actively influence the development of one of the biggest social networks in the world. Pretty cool.

As you might expect from such a special project, spaces are rather limited, and are being granted on a first come first served basis.

Naturally, those who rely on Twitter for business or are deeply dependent on sharing their 140 characters-worth of thoughts at regular intervals should probably think twice about signing up. The nature of the program will mean that the software being used is unstable.

Read More: Best Android phones to buy in 2013

Via: TechCrunch

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Xbox One won’t play games out of the box

We’re just two weeks away from the official Xbox One launch, but Microsoft has confirmed that its next generation console won’t be able to play games out of the box.

In order to use your new games console for playing games, you’ll need to install a day one software update. Otherwise it will effectively remain a £429 door stop.

Whilst speaking with Engadget, Microsoft senior director of product management Albert Penello revealed that "functionally, you will be able to do very little without taking the day one update."

It’s not just gaming that will be off the cards without this sizeable update. "A lot of the apps come with the day one update because they wouldn't have even been done," explained Penello.

So why is the Xbox One effectively bricked on day one? It’s because all of the Xbox One consoles currently sat in warehouses and factories around the world are essentially operating on an old version of the console’s operating system.

That operating system, and the host of apps that will ship with it, are constantly being updated, and will continue to be updated right up until the Xbox One’s launch. There’s an inevitable disconnect here.

Indeed, the Xbox One’s main rival, the PS4, will also have a day one software update when it launches a week later on November 29 in order to be able to play BluRay discs and DVDs on it. However, the main point to note is that it will be functional as a games console without this update.

When it comes to the Xbox One, you’ll just have to hope that your broadband provider of choice hasn’t planned any maintenance work on the day of November 22.

Read More: Xbox One vs PS4

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Battlefield 4 Xbox One Kinect functionality explained

The Xbox One Kinect functionality for Battlefield 4 has been detailed by EA Games.

EA DICE confirmed in July that Battlefield 4 would be utilising the new Xbox One Kinect when it launches in November, but didn’t reveal exactly how at the time.

The developer has now announced the game will use Kinect’s head tracking features for leaning and peeking around cover.

During the 12-minute-long Xbox One dashboard video, Xbox executives explained how Kinect is able to track the user even when they are seated.

EA Games has utilised this functionality to enable users to peek around cover and lean out to shoot, all using their bodies via Kinect.

There is a subtlety to the lean and peek functionality, but it makes a big difference to Battlefield 4. With previous titles in the series, like Battlefield 3 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2, you couldn’t lean out of cover at all, meaning you would have to completely expose your character to enemy fire just to take a shot.

Kinect should make the lean and peak feature a lot easier too, as you can simply move your head to lean around cover and use the Xbox One Wireless Controller to do the rest.

“We have a pretty pragmatic view [on the new Kinect],” said Karl Magnus Troedsson, General Manager at DICE back in July. “Instead of just trying to tick all the boxes of features you can do with new hardware, we look at what actually adds value [for] our players.”

The Xbox One Kinect will also add voice commands to the Battlefield 4 experience, something that was already present in existing Battlefield entries.

You’ll be able to call for a medic, request or cancel request for ammo, hit your mates up for a lift or thank other players for their help.

Battlefield 4 is out now for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and will be a launch title for the Xbox One and PS4, which are released on November 22 and 29 respectively in the UK.

Read more: Is the Xbox One Kinect a game changer?

Via: Polygon

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Samsung Galaxy S5 release date, news, rumours, specs and price

A Samsung Galaxy S5 release date might not be expected until early 2014, but a raft of Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours have already starting circulating, offering early details on the next-gen flagship phone.

With the Samsung Galaxy S4 now a matter of months old, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 available to buy and the iPhone 5S having hit retailers as the new target of the smartphone industry, Samsung has promised some impressive Samsung Galaxy S5 specs are on the horizon, while the rumour mill has offered even more.

While recent Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours have pointed to the device trading in its less than impressive plastic build in favour of a new metal option, Samsung itself has stated the phone will support a 64-bit processor. While it might copy the iPhone 5S' CPU, Samsung has stated the S5 will not feature an integrated fingerprint scanner.

What's more, while much on the Korean manufacturer's next flagship phone still remains shrouded in speculation and mystery, recent reports have claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S5 specs sheet could be bolstered by a 16-megapixel rear-mounted camera and 3GB of RAM wrapped within a Samsung Galaxy S4 Active esque waterproof coating. Although currently unconfirmed, the already eagerly awaited Samsung Galaxy S5 is an inevitability of the current trend of annual product cycles and companies’ insatiable need to always be pushing the envelope and raking in the cash.

Ensuring you are kept abreast of all the latest Samsung Galaxy S5 news and rumours, including when you can expect the Samsung Galaxy S5 release date, what specs the phone will have and how much it will set you back, bookmark this page as will be updating it regularly leading up to the S5 launch next year.

Samsung Galaxy S5 News

Ensuring it is not left behind, latest Samsung Galaxy S5 news has once again seen the upcoming handset tipped to run a 64-bit processor, similar to that found in the new iPhone 5S.

While Samsung’s CEO of Mobile Shin Jong-Kyun recently stated that "yes, our next smartphones will have 64-bit processing functionality," reports of production issues had hinted this feature might not drop until later in 2014 aboard the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Now, however, the Samsung Galaxy S5 looks set to be on the receiving end, of the PC-esque processor.

“According to the latest bits of information coming from Samsung’s homeland, the company is pretty much done with developing its in-house 64-bit CPU,” tech blog GforGames has reported. They added: “From our understanding, Samsung went past the more difficult parts of creating the CPU, and the chip is almost ready for its release.”

In other recent Samsung Galaxy S5 news has seen a waterproof body tipped for inclusion on the HTC One rival. Unlike the S4 and the follow-on S4 Active, recent reports out of Korea have hinted that the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be a waterproof and dustproof direct from the box, much like the Sony Xperia Z1.

According to further Korean national news outlets, the Samsung Galaxy S5 will also adopt an aluminium or other metal body in a bid to keep footing with the highend and luxurious path being forged out by its competitors, Apple and HTC.

Although looking set to take pointers from the iPhone 5S' processor, further Samsung representatives have added that the S5 will not incorporate a fingerprint scanner like its leading rival. “We are not yet developing the technology,” an official Samsung spokesperson said when questioned on the possibility of a fingerprint scanner hosting Samsung Galaxy S5.

Further reports have suggested the Samsung Galaxy S5 release date will see the handset line up with 3GB of RAM in tow. A feature that has also been mooted for the imminent Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the S5's expansive RAM has been hinted at after the company's latest development announcement.

Speaking in recent weeks, Samsung confirmed that it had started mass production of the first 3GB low power DDR3 RAM chips for mobile devices. With the Samsung Galaxy S5 set to be the manufacturer's new flagship phone, it makes sense that it will run the company's latest developments and most advanced components.

A chip that could spell more than increased speeds and improved multitasking capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy S5 RAM improvement could result in a slimmer phone with a bettery battery life. An official spokesperson for the company stated: "Samsung's new ultra-slim memory solutions will enable thinner smartphone designs and allow for additional battery space, while offering a data transfer speed of up to 2,133 megabits per second (Mbps) per pin."

Samsung Galaxy S5 Release Date

As you would expect, Samsung has yet to give any direct indication as to when the Samsung Galaxy S5 release date will be held. That’s not to say we don’t have some idea on when to expect the next addition to the company’s flagship smartphone brand though.

If Samsung sticks with past tradition – and we can’t see why it wouldn’t – then it is expected that the Samsung Galaxy S5 release date will be held sometime around April/May 2014.

Although still nothing more than speculation, this predicted Samsung Galaxy S5 release date does have a theory behind it. Like its bitter rival Apple, Samsung has become something of a fan of strict annual product cycles for its leading product lines, as such it has become a little bit predictable.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 hit UK retailers on April 26 after a dedicated New York launch event on March 14. The Samsung Galaxy S3 went into stores on May 29 2012 and all the way back in 2011, the Samsung Galaxy S2 launched on May 1. Starting to see the pattern?

Although a late April/early May Samsung Galaxy S5 release date is believed to be on the cards, there are still many rounds of rumours and leaks expected before then.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Rumours

It might be early, but the Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours are already doing the rounds. The most prominent Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours to date, however, all focus on one area of the currently unconfirmed phone – its design.

With the Samsung Galaxy S4 having been widely criticised for its plastic form factor which failed to match up to the brushed metal highlights of the iPhone 5 or HTC One, Samsung is widely expected to adopt an all new finish for the S5, with new aluminium body repeatedly tipped.

According to unnamed “sources close to the South Korean phone maker,” recent reports have suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be used to launch a new ‘Design 3.0’ standard within the company.

The sources stated: “While we don’t have the slightest idea what Design 3.0 really means in terms of looks, we can now confirm that Samsung will start to use aluminium for its high-end smartphones, and the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be the first one to receive this treatment.”

Further hinting at a change in design and materials, Samsung recently acquired carbon fibre specialist the SGL Group, announcing in an official statement that it would be using the high-end lightweight materials in future phones and tablets.

"Lightweight materials have become an important factor not only in industrial applications but also the consumer end markets such as digital media," Yoosung Chung, President & CEO of Samsung Petrochemical said. He added: "This partnership will position Samsung as a leading player in the development and application of carbon fibre-based products.”

"The cooperation is expected to provide a stable long-term supply of carbon fibre materials for Samsung and promote its use in various Samsung products and applications such as consumer electronics, medical devices and engineering applications,"

Samsung Galaxy S5 Specs

With the Samsung Galaxy S4 having taken smartphone specs to the next level, it is widely expected that the South Korean manufacturer will continue with a similar trend with the next-generation S5. Although few areas of the phone’s features list have yet been rumoured, certain elements have been teased.

Earlier this month a Samsung design patent leaked (above) showing off a new angled-edged phone which has been mooted to the be the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5.

Based on the outed design filing, the phone will run a version of Google’s Android operating system (no surprises there then) as well as integrated cameras front and back. At present no further S5 specs have leaked.

Other recently emerged Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours have claimed the upcoming handset will make use of a new 16-megapixel smartphone camera sensor, offing high-end snaps that will finally spell the end for the dedicated compact camera.

According to recent reports, the Samsung Galaxy S5 specs sheet will see the new 16-megapixel camera sensor further bolstered by optical image stabilisation features.

The revised camera component is said to be under development in Korea to replace the 13-megapixel snapper found on the existing S4. It is not expected that the improved camera optics will be ready in time for next week’s Samsung Galaxy Note 3 unveiling.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Price

Although the Samsung Galaxy S5 price is a long way from being confirmed, it has already been suggested that the S5 will cost more than its already pricy predecessor.

According to the same unnamed sources who have claimed a metal bodied design will be bestowed upon the next-gen handset, the Samsung Galaxy S5 price will be bumped up by the new premium building materials.

Stay tuned for more Samsung Galaxy S5 news and rumours as more details on the S4 follow-on continue to appear. While you wait, why not take a look at all the latest iPhone 5S rumours.

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iPad mini 2 delays blamed on screen burn-in issues

The iPad mini 2 release date is reportedly facing delays, with supply chain sources hinting that the new 7.9-inch Retina display is said to be suffering from screen burn issues.

Although Apple has to date stated only that the iPad mini 2 release would be held “later in November,” it has been suggested that the second-generation tablet was originally intended to go on sale alongside the iPad Air on November 1 before being hit by delays.

With recent reports suggesting Apple has been forced to turn to Samsung for additional iPad mini 2 panels, news outlets in Korea have now claimed that the original Sharp manufacturer displays have been plagued by burn-in issues.

Although the burn issues are said to not be visible to the average user, it is reported that the panels have not been able to meet Apple’s high test standards.

According to the industry insiders: “Apple is delaying its launch because it could not solve the burn-in problem in the LCD panel, to be applied to the iPad mini retina product, which is caused by the malfunction of the TFT.”

The sources added: “If the burn-in problem is not solved, Apple will be in a fix. If Apple relaxes the technological standards for the burn-in, consumers’ perception of Apple may deteriorate, and if not, it will have to change its supply chain and delay the launch of the new product.”

The iPad mini was officially unveiled last month, with the new Retina display one of the second-generation tablet’s biggest improvements.

Further iPad mini 2 features include the addition of the same 64-bit A7 processor as the iPhone 5S and the company’s recently launched iOS 7 mobile operating system.

Read More: iPad mini 2 vs Google Nexus 7

Via: ETNews

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Nexus 5 to get new Google Now smart features in November 13 update?

The Google Nexus 5 could be getting a update full of Google Now smart features on November 13.

Although Google has yet to officially announce the update, but it seems an update download date for a host of new Google Now features has been pencilled in for next week.

According to Wired magazine, Google Now will become smarter with the next update, including being able to offer answers back to you, similar to iOS’ Siri.

The update will also allow Google’s flagship to search apps and launch them in order to perform specific tasks.

There will also be an increased number of Google Now cards, all based on your current location.

It does seem strange that Google didn’t offer these features as standard with Android 4.4 KitKat and the Nexus 5, but it will be interesting to see how much functionality is added with the rumoured November 13 update.

Google Nexus 5 Features

Google has jam packed the Nexus 5 will a load of high-end components, which sees the flagship’s price raised to £299.

It has a 2.26GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of Ram and is powered by a 2,300mAh Lithium-Polymer battery.

You have the option of 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, increased from 8GB and 16GB in the Google Nexus 4. As with smartphone alternatives like the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, it does lack microSD card expansion.

The Nexus 5 has a 4.95-inch 1,920 x 1,080p Full HD display with a 445ppi image density. That screen is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 panel for a little extra protection.

In the rear, the Nexus 5 has an 8-megapixel camera with optical image stabilisation and has an additional front-facing 1.3-megapixel snapper.

As usual, there’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 4G and NFC connectivity.



Next, read our Google Nexus 5 vs Nexus 4 comparison.

Via: AndroidAuthority

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Stephen Elop could sell Xbox and kill off Bing if he becomes Microsoft CEO

Stephen Elop is seemingly pondering some rather huge changes if he becomes Microsoft CEO in the future.

Previously CEO at Nokia, Elop is said to be considering realigning Microsoft’s focus with making Office software available to a wider range of devices, including Apple and Google.

According to “three people with knowledge of his thinking”, Elop is prepared to shut down Microsoft’s major business divisions to tighten the company’s focus. This may well include a plan to sell off the Xbox division and kill the Bing internet browser.

Analysts have already suggested the sale of Xbox and Bing, among other moves, could lift Microsoft’s earnings in fiscal year 2015 by 40 per cent.

“Microsoft is trying to do too much, and these assets add no clear value to the overall business,” said Nomura Holdings analyst Rick Sherlund.

Elop will be joining Microsoft as the head of a new Microsoft devices unit responsible for hardware such as the Surface Pro 2 and Xbox One, after resigning as Nokia CEO after its sale to Microsoft for $7.2billion in September.

“Two of the people with knowledge of his thinking” say Elop assumes Microsoft could make more money maximising Office sales rather than using it to propel Windows device sales, especially as Gartner predicts PC shipments will fall 11 per cent in 2013.

Microsoft currently has several CEO candidates on their list, after it was announced in August current CEO Steve Ballmer would be retiring within a year.

Elop and Ford Motor Company CEO Alan Mulally are both among the external candidates, whilst internally strategy chief Tony Bates, enterprise software chief Satya Nadella and COO Kevin Turner are also being considered according to reports.

The Xbox One release date has been scheduled for November 22 in 13 worldwide markets.

Next, read our Xbox One vs PS4 comparison.

Via: Bloomberg

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Xbox One dashboard demoed in new 12-minute video

Microsoft has released a 12-minute long video showing off the new Xbox One dashboard and its new features.

Yusuf Mehdi, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Xbox and Marc Whitten, Corporate Vice President walk through the Xbox One dashboard in a 12-minute long live presentation.

“Marc Whitten and Yusuf Mehdi walk through a comprehensive demo of Xbox One, including instant switching, biometric sign-in, Live TV, Skype, game DVR, OneGuide and more”, reads the official blurb.

They first demonstrate how easily the Xbox One Kinect recognises both of them as they enter the room, logging them in to their separate Xbox accounts. You’ll be able to customise the colour of your homescreen and the tiles around the currently playing content are specific to your Xbox One habits.

To the left of the main screen are your Pins section, which features all the content you’ve selected to put there from Netflix and Skype to movies and games. Your personal choices are stored in the Cloud, so it can be transferred onto any Xbox One you happen to be playing on.

Mehdi and Whitten also show off the Instant Switching functionality of the Xbox One, using Kinect or the controller to quick move between the various content on your next-gen console.

Game and other software notifications will appear whatever you’re doing on the Xbox One, even when you’re watching TV.

Skype with the Xbox One Kinect also gets a showcase, with the 1080p HD video capture and software controlled widescreen and body tracking.

Whitten also demos the Xbox One game DVR and the Upload Studio. Using the latter, you can edit your captured game clips, add narration, skins and other customisation options.

The Xbox guys also remind you that Xbox One GamerPics are now Full 1080p HD resolution and there are new achievement types to unlock too.

Mehdi finishes the demo by showing off the One Guide – a new TV guide that integrates your TV content into the Xbox One UI with voice control options as well. You can also add your own channels and apps to the One Guide to create a personalised TV experience.

Read more: Is the Xbox One Kinect a game changer?

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PS4 Release Date: November 29 launch now just three weeks away

The eagerly awaited PS4 release date is now just three weeks away, with the Xbox One rival to hit UK reailers on November 29, two weeks after it lands in the US.

Having had a tumultuous couple of weeks after it was emerged the PS3 follow-on would not support audio CDs or MP3 files, the PS4 release date is now just seven days away in the States.

Ahead of the eagerly awaited launch, Sony recently unveiled the PS4 retail packaging, giving gamers an idea of what they can expect.

Continuing the colour schemes which have adorned much of the PS4 promotional materials to date, the PS4 release date will see consoles head to retailers in blue and white boxes, with the usual console image and storage details on show.

With just weeks to go until the PS4 release date, the console’s retail packaging was unveiled via the Twitter feed of Chris Owen, Sony’s Community Manager for PlayStation Europe.

The PS4 release date was officially announced by Sony during its Gamescom 2013 press conference back in August. The next-gen console will hit UK retailers on November 29.

Landing in UK two weeks after its global launch debut in the US simultaneously, the November 29 PS4 UK release date will see the console go head-to-head with the Xbox One release date, a launch that has been set one week earlier on November 22. The PS4 release date for US based gamers is November 15.

Making the PS4 release date announcement, Andrew House, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment stated: “PlayStation 4 will be launching in 32 countries this holiday season and will be made available in North America on the 15th of November and in Europe on the 29th of November.”

He added: “2013 is the year when interactive entertainment takes a massive leap forward with the launch of the PS4.”

Watch our PS4 vs PS3 video as we go hands-on with Sony's next-gen console.

With the PS4 release date and price now confirmed, the Sony branded console seemingly has the edge over its Microsoft produced rival, with the Xbox One release date set for November. What’s more, the PS4 price is £80 cheaper than that of the Xbox One, heading to retailers priced £349 compared with the Xbox’s £429 price tag.

The PS4 is set to be bestowed with a raft of new and exclusive games at launch, with the likes of Watch Dogs, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag and Infamous Second Son all to be made available for the PS3 follow on.

Further PS4 games set to feature at launch include the likes of Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4 and FIFA 14. A number of further high-profile games are all set to hit the console in the near future too with Bungie’s Destiny topping the eagerly awaited list.

Read More: PS4 vs Xbox One

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Netflix and 4oD confirmed for early Xbox One appearance

Netflix, LOVEFiLM and 4oD are part of the 13 strong list of entertainment services Microsoft has today confirmed will make an early appearance on the upcoming Xbox One.

With the Xbox One set to offer a raft of both gaming and entertainment options, the newly revealed list of entertainment services bound for the PS4 rival has been confirmed just two weeks ahead of the November 22 Xbox One release date.

Although the likes of Netflix and 4oD are set to take an early bow on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 follow-on, there are still a selection of high-profile entertainment services yet to be confirmed for the console, including the hugely popular BBC iPlayer.

“We set out to make Xbox One the all-in-one games and entertainment hub for your home. The one system that offers the best games next to the best entertainment experiences and apps,” Marc Whitten, Xbox Chief Product Officer said.

An official spokesperson for the company added: “Today, we’re excited to announce the very first wave of some of the world’s biggest names in entertainment coming to Xbox One in the 13 launch markets between 22nd November and spring 2014.”

As well as the much-loved likes of Netflix and LOVEFiLM, rival on-demand services blinkbox, NOW TVand Wuaki.tv are also on the Xbox One’s early hit list.

With Demand 5 join 4oD as the Xbox One’s catch-up services, Eurosport, TED and Crackle channels have all be confirmed. Rounding off the 13 strong list of Xbox One entertainment services, Machinima and MUZU TV will be joined by Twitch.

Whitten added: ““Along with offering a stellar app portfolio from around the world, Xbox One takes the next step by offering them in a way that is seamless and easy to use.”

Read More: Xbox One vs PS4

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LG G Flex coming to Europe as pricing is announced

The LG G Flex will arrive in Europe as early as next month, the flexible phone's South Korean manufacturer has revealed.

Launching in Korea on November 12, the curved and flexible phone will be available in France on mobile network Orange by the end of the year.

The device is being promoted by LG as "the world's first 'real' curved smartphone, an underhand dig at its bitter rival Samsung and the Samsung Galaxy Round, a handset which curves slightly between its left and right edges but is not flexible.

First unveiled in October, LG has now announced the LG G Flex price, saying it will cost 999,900 Korean Won (about £584), slightly less than its competitor's 1.09 million won (£632) price tag.

The 6-inch LG G Flex has a 720p OLED display screen with a banana bend running from top to bottom.

The rounded shape mimics LG's curved LCD TVs, providing a more immersive video experience. It's also thought that it makes the phone ergonomically superior when making calls.

A video leaked by an inside source earlier this week shows that as well as being bent the phone is also bendy. It can be flattened when pushed down on either side.

The sources reports that it takes a "reasonable amount of force" to recreate the effect, so the device won't be floppy but it means its screen is unlikely to shatter when dropped.

In addition to its flexibility the phone has a self-healing protective film on back which heals up surface scratches in minutes.

A chunky 177g, it measures between 7.9mm and 8.7mm thick and is powered by the current Android processor of choice - a 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU backed by 2GB of RAM. It has an 13-megapixel camera and runs on a 3,500mAh battery.

Now read about LG's 55-inch curved OLED TV

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Mass Effect 4 teaser pictures released by Bioware

Bioware has issued a series of teaser pictures for the upcoming Mass Effect 4 game on Twitter.

The tweets all tease the “next chapter of Mass Effect” but actually reveal very little about game itself.

Key Bioware Montreal staff working on the next Mass Effect title, including Series Producer Michael Gamble, Executive Producer Casey Hudson and BioWare Montreal Studio Director Yanick Roy, all bombarded Twitter with the images of staff members working on the game.

The images were all released as a celebration of N7 Day 13, with the hashtag #N7Day2013.

Michael Gamble started the influx of teaser pictures with the caption: “The next chapter of Mass Effect is upon us!! #N7Day2013”, followed shortly by Yanick Roy stating there will be “new characters to fall in love with.”

Gary Stewart, a level designer at BioWare Montreal, added that the developer is also introducing “new enemies to encounter” and gameplay designer Manveer Heir finished off with a rather intriguing hint of “new worlds to explore.”

Casey Hudson finished the flurry of teaser pictures with a snap of staff members hard at work on the next Mass Effect game, saying:

“We continue working hard to create amazing new Mass Effect experiences for you. Happy N7 Day everyone! #N7Day13”



Mass Effect 4 Rumours

Mass Effect 4 is being produced at the Bioware Montreal studio, rather than BioWare Edmonton like the original series. The Edmonton studios are working on an entirely new IP.

The next Mass Effect game may not relate to the Shepard storyline of the original trilogy, according to Mass Effect 3 lead writer Mac Walters.

Bioware Montreal has already said the game looks “beautiful, fun and ambitious” and will take place in a “new fictional world”.

There is no confirmed release date for Mass Effect 4 yet, but we do know it will share “core systems” with Dragon Age 3.

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

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Xbox One Release Date: November 22 launch just two weeks away

The Xbox One release date is now just two weeks away, with Microsoft’s next-gen console and PS4 rival set to hit retailers on November 22.

With just two weeks to go until the official Xbox One release date, the console looks set to be in short supply at launch, with manufacturer Microsoft having recently stated that all day-one Xbox One pre-orders of the next-gen console have sold out.

The Xbox One release date will precede the UK PS4 release date by a full week, although Sony’s next-gen gamer will hit US retailers seven days prior to its bitter rival.

"November 22 is a special day in Xbox history,” Yusuf Mehdi, Vice President of Xbox Marketing said in making the Xbox One release date announcement last month. “On this day, we first launched Xbox 360 in 2005. Our next chapter begins in 79 days, when Xbox One becomes available."

The Xbox One release date will see the eagerly awaited console launch simultaneously in 13 global markets on the 22nd. Launch territories for the console include Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and Spain. The US and UK are also included.

Although the Xbox One release date will precede that of the PS4, it will be more expensive. The Xbox One price was set earlier this year as £429, some £80 more expensive than the PS4 price tag.

With Day One console pre-orders having already sold out, Mehdi has confirmed that Microsoft will make more available giving eager gamers an extra chance.

"We are humbled and gratified by the tremendous interest in Xbox One from game fans everywhere,” he said. “We sold out of our pre-order supply faster than at any other time in our history and we are on path to have the biggest launch of an Xbox ever. We look forward to celebrating with millions and millions of gamers this holiday.

"As a result of this incredible consumer demand and the development progress on Xbox One, I am thrilled to share that today we are making available a limited number of additional Xbox One Day One consoles for pre-order. We have coordinated with our retail partners to make it easy for you to reserve your Xbox One today."

Read More: Xbox One pre-orders

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Motorola Moto G press picture leaks before November 13 launch event

The first official-looking press picture of the Motorola Moto G smartphone has been leaked online.

Ahead of the Moto G’s official launch on November 13, an apparently official press image of the upcoming mid-range handset has appeared.

The press picture comes courtesy of notorious tipster @evleaks and bears the tagline “Almost here.”

Motorola issued a formal save the date notice for the Moto G launch event earlier this month, but offered no further details regarding its supposedly mid-range handset.

It will be the cheaper alternative to the innovative flagship Motorola Moto X, which sadly is a US exclusive and won’t be making its way to UK shores.

From the pictures it seems the Moto G will launch in pink, green, blue and white. It will also feature a smooth contour design with angular detailing at the top.



Motorola Moto G Specs

Motorola Moto G specs leaked at the start of this month, revealing that the smartphone will have a 4.7-inch 720p HD display.

It will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz, rather than the top end Snapdragon 800 CPU to keep costs lower.

There will be a choice of 8GB or 16GB of internal storage, which is another indicator of the Moto G’s more budget conscious price tag.

The Moto G will also have an 8-megapixel camera in the rear, but we’re unsure of the forward-facing snapper’s specs as yet.

Battery-wise, there’s a 1,950mAh unit, which should offer a fairly average standby time.

Motorola intends to make sure the Moto G is offered for free on a monthly contract basis to make it appealing to consumers.

The Moto X launched in August with DIY cover options and a focus on innovative features and solid design rather than the top-end specs. Some of the Moto X features have made their way into the Google Nexus 5 with Android 4.4 KitKat.

Next, read our Google Nexus 5 vs Nexus 4 comparison.

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Google launches Android KitKat Keyboard alongside Hangouts SMS update

Google has opened out its updated Hangouts and Keyboard apps to the Play Store masses following the Google Nexus 5 debut.

The company’s latest flagship Android smartphone shipped with the latest version of Google’s mobile OS, Android 4.4 KitKat, on October 31.

Part of that new OS is Google’s own updated suite of apps, which includes a new version of Hangouts and a new Keyboard. Now the equivalent stand-alone Google Play Store apps have been updated accordingly.

Version 2.0 of Hangouts is possibly the most interesting of the two, as it now includes the ability to serve as your SMS app. Besides the usual instant messaging, VoIP calls, video chats - and now animated GIFs - you can also send traditional text messages through the app.

If you’ve ever looked enviously at your iPhone-owning mates’ integrated iMessage app, then you’ll know more or less what to expect. All you need is an Android device that runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or later (which is most of you), and you too can update to this handy new version.

Google Keyboard has also been updated to version 2.0. The big new feature this time is "Space aware Gesture Typing," which sounds quite cosmic and mystical, but actually just means that you can type out long sentences without lifting your finger. Still, it’s pretty handy if you’ve taken to the whole swipe (or should that be Swype?) typing method.

Oh, and the other notable addition here is a new easy emoji entry system, but this will only work if your handset’s running on Android 4.4 KitKat. Which, unless you have a Nexus device, is unlikely to be the case for a good few months yet. Boo.

Both Hangouts 2.0 and Google Keyboard 2.0 are available for free download on the Google Play Store now.

Read More: Best Android phones to buy in 2013

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Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Game Review

Exclusive to Nintendo 3DS

Is this the end for Professor Layton? It’s certainly the end of an era. The sixth Layton game across two Nintendo handhelds, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy ties up the saga so far while leaving pathways open for the future, and does so in considerable style. If you’ve yet to play a Layton, then this isn’t the one to start with – it’s a bit like starting the Mass Effect series with Mass Effect 3 – so we’d recommend tackling Professor Layton and the Spectre’s Call and Professor Layton and The Miracle Mask first. We’d strongly recommend doing so, because if Azran Legacy confirms anything, it’s that this series is really something special.

If you are a stranger to the puzzle-solving Prof. then a description might actually put you off. The Layton games are effectively puzzle compilations, full of logic puzzles, spatial puzzles, sliding-block puzzles, maths puzzles and assorted other conundrums, of the sort you might find in an IQ test or mental workout.

The puzzles are contained within a framework of exploration and adventure, as the Professor and his sidekicks, Luke and Emmy, wander around a series of environments, linked on an overhead map, chatting to an eccentric cast of characters and getting to the heart of the mystery at the centre of the game.

Layton works because, while the puzzles alone would be intellectually engaging but otherwise quite dry, the exploration, the story and the tone keep you pushing through them. You want to take each brainteaser down, but even more you want to find out where the tale is going.

The Azran Legacy is no different. This time the crew find themselves in cahoots with another archaeologist, Professor Sycamore, who’s found the living legacy of an ancient civilization. The bad news is that this is also the target of a sinister organisation, Targent. After a heroic escape and some detective work in London, the team set off on a globe-trotting adventure that puts them on a collision course not just with Targent, but also with returning villain Jean Descole. Cleverly, the mysteries of The Azran Legacy tie in with events we’ve seen in the previous games, while also bringing in a range of familiar faces – as well as a few brand new ones.

The Azran Legacy has a more adventurous feel than previous games, with a wider range of exotic locations and a bit more derring do. It even finds time for an action sequence, albeit one with a forgiving nature and a puzzle-focused twist. Yet the overall tone is classic Layton, from the nicely-scripted interplay between the main characters to the elegant mix of English, continental and Japanese anime styles.

It presents a steampunk vision of a world that seems caught somewhere between the 1920s and the 1970s, yet there’s nothing heavy handed about the setting or the themes. As your team gets onboard their elegant airship to track down another Azran artefact, it’s almost impossible not to get caught up in its charms.

Like its immediate predecessor, the latest Layton also plays to the strengths of the 3DS. The graphics aren’t astonishingly detailed, but they’re beautifully drawn, and The Azran Legacy ditches the static 2D scenes of the DS games for a nicely-rendered 3D view you can pan and occasionally zoom around to find characters to talk to, puzzles to solve and valuable hint coins. Cut scenes, meanwhile, make the most of the 3DS’s 3D screen, giving them a depth and impact that they don’t have in 2D. The touchscreen controls are smart and intuitive, and you never need to touch a button or the analogue stick. It’s a game that anyone from eight to eighty could pick up and enjoy.

The puzzles themselves, of course, start off tough and only get more challenging, and a few of the maths ones are particularly awkward if you haven’t got that kind of mind. Yet the Layton games have always done their best to help you, and The Azran Legacy still allows you to spend the hint coins you collect while exploring to unlock up to three hints per puzzle. You don’t have to use them and you might not even need to, but it’s worth collecting them for the harder puzzles, particularly as failing a puzzle and having to restart it usually means a reduction in your score.

Along the way we get three new mini-games. One, a fashion game where you have to select garments for each subject according to their demands, is a little uninteresting, but ties in to the range of collectible apparel you’ll find elsewhere. Blooms and Shrooms, where you have to place flowers in order to spread out beams of natural energy and revive dead trees, is bewildering at first, but quite compulsive once you get stick in. The highlight, though, is Nut Roller, where you help a little squirrel get a nut through a maze of obstacles, working not in a Super Monkey Ball style, but by using stones and tree-sprouting seeds to block holes or make a barrier.

It might be tempting to dismiss The Azran Legacy as another charming little game – a palette cleanser between the blood and thunder action games, the high-tech cinematic blockbusters, indie breakthroughs and sprawling fantasy epics. But that’s deceptive. It’s surprisingly lengthy with enough drama and variety to keep you engaged for the duration, and the more you play, the more the obsession grows. And while this might not be the last game in the series, you have to applaud the development team at Level 5 for leaving the saga in its current form behind and starting something new before it goes stale. It’s a fitting capstone to one of the most lovable series to grace any platform in the last decade.

Verdict

Professor Layton bows out (for now) with his biggest and most adventurous puzzle-solving drama yet. If you’ve played the previous titles then you can pick up the latest entry in confidence. It’s another elegant compendium of conundrums held together by a brilliant Layton tale. If you haven’t then this isn’t the game to start with, but it is a fitting climax before the curtain falls.

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Apple fixes OS X Mavericks Gmail support

As expected, Apple has addressed the ongoing issues with the Mail app in OS X Mavericks, which had been struggling to handle Gmail accounts.

The new Mac OS launched on October 22, bringing with it a host of subtle updates and visual tweaks to many of its constituent apps.

One part that didn’t appear to get a massive update - at least externally - was the operating system’s email client, Mail. However, there were clearly significant changes under the hood, as within days complaints began to stream in from those with Gmail accounts.

Mail didn’t seem to play nicely with Gmail at all, causing several syncing issues such as duplicating emails and miscalculating the number of unread emails. Apparently, this was down to the unusual way Gmail uses IMAP.

In addition to these problems, the Mail appeared to have problems with organising and deleting mails in some cases.

We learnt last week that Apple had developed a swift(ish) update to correct these issues, and was in the process of testing it with staff and AppleSeed members.

Now, Apple has issued an update that, primarily, "fixes an issue that prevents deleting, moving, and archiving messages for users with custom Gmail settings."

It also "addresses an issue that may cause unread counts to be inaccurate" and "includes additional fixes that improve the compatibility and stability of Mail." In short, it’s fixed Mail.

You can update your faulty Mail app now by going to the App Store and checking the Updates section.

Next, read our MacBook Pro 2014 Haswell vs MacBook Pro 2013 feature.

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Nokia Lumia 1520 tipped for November 25 UK launch

The Nokia Lumia 1520 may start shipping here in the UK on November 25, if one online retailer’s projections are to be believed.

Online phone retailer Unlock Mobile is listing the 6-inch Windows Phone 8 device as being available for pre-order, with the expected arrival date of November 25. Still, pinch of salt, and all that.

The price provided for the phone, incidentally, is £594.98. That might sound like a lot of money on the surface, but perhaps not so much when you consider the Lumia 1520’s prodigious specs.

It’s set to be the very first Windows Phone device with a 1080p display, for one thing. Up to now, Microsoft restrictions have enforced a 720p resolution for all Windows Phone 8 devices, which has left them trailing behind their Android rivals somewhat.

Another first for the platform will be the Nokia Lumia 1520’s quad-core processor - specifically a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. Again, Windows Phone 8 has up to now supported only dual-core processors.

Elsewhere, the Nokia Lumia 1520 will sport a meaty 20-megapixel PureView camera, and integrated wireless charging will feed its 3,400mAh battery. It’ll be relatively slim for such a large device at 8.9mm thick, while it’ll weigh in at a slightly hefty 209g.

It’ll join a thriving 'phablet' market - that is, devices that are caught somewhere between a phone and a tablet in terms of screen size. The current phablet champ is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which bears similar specs to the Nokia Lumia 1520.

In our initial hands-on with the device we reckoned that "in a market of super-sized, super-speced smartphones, the Nokia Lumia 1520 has brought the Finnish manufacturer back into the race."

Come November 25, we might have a better idea of whether it can win that race.



Next, read our Nokia Lumia 1020 review.

Via: The Inquirer

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Motorola patents throat tattoo communication device

Motorola has applied for a patent for a bizarre wearable communication device that would be tattooed onto a person’s throat.

No, it’s not April 1. Motorola has genuinely applied for a patent that would lend the term 'wearable tech' to a whole new level.

In a proposal that trumps even owner Google’s novel Google Glass effort, the proposed device "comprises an electronic skin tattoo capable of being applied to a throat region of a body."

Why would you want such a thing on your throat? Because it would contain a microphone that could pick up vibrations from your larynx, thus filtering out background noise. But of course.

In addition to a mic, the throat tattoo device would feature an antenna, a transceiver, Bluetooth, NFC, and a battery that "may or may not be rechargeable." We dread to think how that would need to be charged.

It could also, apparently, come with its own screen. Though one assumes it would be slightly awkward to see.

If all this wasn’t bizarre enough, Motorola claims that the device could be used as a lie detector, picking up on the "galvanic skin response" of the user.

"It is contemplated that a user that may be nervous or engaging in speaking falsehoods may exhibit different galvanic skin response than a more confident, truth telling individual," reads the patent application.

The concept is, quite frankly, bonkers. But we love Motorola for it. Perhaps it’s trying to impress Google with its own outlandish 'moon shot.'

Read More: Google Glass – The Privacy Problem

Via: Unwired View

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Sony Xperia Z1 Android 4.4 update confirmed alongside additional handsets

Sony has confirmed the Sony Xperia Z1 will be getting an Android 4.4 KitKat update, along with a host of other handsets.

A week after Google announced Android 4.4 KitKat, Sony has revealed its upgrade plans for the Xperia Z1 and other high-end handsets.

The Sony Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z1 will all be getting the Android KitKat update, but Sony hasn’t yet outlined any time-frames.

The Japanese electronics manufacturer did say that the aforementioned devices will make up “the first raft” of updates, suggesting that more devices will be upgraded to KitKat in the future.

Sony also revealed that a number of handsets would also be getting an Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update “from next month”.

These are: the Xperia T, Xperia TX, Xperia V, Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia SP, Xperia Z Ultra and the Xperia Z1.

HTC has also confirmed its plans for Android 4.4 updates, with unlocked HTC One handsets getting the latest Android edition within 30 days of Google’s announcement. Network locked versions will get Android KitKat within 90 days.



Android 4.4 KitKat Features

Launched alongside the Nexus 5, Android 4.4 KitKat introduces a load of minor changes over Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, rather than a huge UI overhaul.

When on the Google Now screen or home screen, you can now say “OK Google” to launch voice search, send texts or access other smartphone features.

Google has also slimmed down the memory footprint of Android KitKat so that it only requires 512MB of RAM to run, making it more compatible with lower-end, budget handsets. Memory optimisation has also increased multitasking capability in KitKat.

There’s a new Hangouts app in KitKat too, which replaces the original messages app. It collates all messages from a single contact in one conversation – regardless of whether it’s an email, SMS, MMS or other chat format.



Next, read our iPhone 5S vs Sony Xperia Z1 comparison.

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HTC M8 pictures leak online showing off HTC One follow-on

It seems the new HTC M8 smartphone will be very different to its predecessors the HTC One, HTC One Mini and HTC One Max.

Pictures of the device have leaked online showing a change in design direction that will see the flagship phone adopt an even more high-end appearance.

A pair of photos posted on VR-Zone's Chinese site show a prototype of the phone's outer shell in a metallic blue colour.

The snaps reveal the cover is now a solid wraparound sheet of metal, rather than a front and back with a joining rim like the HTC One's "sandwich" style case.

The device's camera remains in the same location, however there's now an additional unexplained hole in the back of the phone shell approximately a centimetre above it.

Speculation suggests that - if HTC has decided to follow in the footsteps of the iPhone 5s and locate a fingerprint scanner on the phone - it might be positioned in the mystery hole, however it would be awkward to use in that location.

With the HTC One having shaken things up with a 4-Ultrapixel camera, another idea for the hole's use is as the location of a secondary camera, but that seems like an unnecessary addition.

In addition, it's rumoured the newest member of the HTC family will have a 5-5.2 inch screen with 2K resolution, a larger face than the 4.7 inches of the HTC One's 1920 x 1080 pixel LCD screen.

It's said to have 3GB of RAM and carry Sense 6 and will be powered by a Quacomm Snapdragon 800 processor.

The name HTC M8 will only remain during development, before an official name is announced. The HTC One was called the M7 until it's release.

There's no word yet when the new phone will be launched or its name, but it's likely to hits stores in 2014.

Now, read Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One

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Vodafone 3G fails to meet Ofcom requirements

Vodafone 3G coverage has failed to reach regulator Ofcom’s coverage obligations, falling short of the required 90 per cent.

As part of the 3G mobile spectrum license, Ofcom requires all UK network providers to achieve coverage for 90 per cent of the country’s population, up from 80 per cent in 2000.

EE, Three and O2 all meet the 90 per cent obligation, but Vodafone fell short by 1.4 per cent.

However, Vodafone has promised that this discrepancy will be rectified by the end of the year by introducing its 3G signal to more mobile masts that it originally intended.

“Ofcom is fully aware of our plans to ensure compliance by the end of this year,” said Vodafone in a statement. “Our network investment stands at more than £900 million this year alone and we remain on track to deliver indoor coverage across 2G, 3G and 4G to 98 per cent of the population by 2015, two years ahead of the regulator’s deadline.”

Ofcom will be monitoring Vodafone’s 3G coverage and will reassess the UK network provider in the New Year.

Analysts believe it won’t take Vodafone long to improve its 3G coverage and should meet the 90 per cent requirement before the end of 2013.

“I don’t see it being very much of an issue for them to catch up and quite probably it will happen before the end of the year,” said Matthew Howett, an analyst with research firm Ovum.

This is especially evident by the speed of Vodafone’s 4G rollout.

“4G coverage will be better and much more likely to be complied with given the spectrum at 800MHz travels further distances and penetrates buildings well,” added Howett.

Ofcom is looking to prioritise mobile coverage and recently released a report highlighting mobile coverage on UK roads is poor. Next year it will look to increase coverage on the UK railway lines.

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

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Driverless cars coming to Milton Keynes by 2015

Heathrow's Terminal 5 driverless pods

Milton Keynes will have 20 driverless cars buzzing about the town by 2015 as part of a £1.5 million project.

The British Government scheme will deliver a batch of 20 driverless pods by 2015 to the Buckinghamshire town, which will drive on lanes separate from pedestrians.

The project hopes to introduce 100 autonomous pods by 2017 to ferry people between the Milton Keynes train station and the main shopping centre.

A journey in the 2-man driverless pod will cost £2. They can reach speeds of up to 12mph and are expected to make £1 million in revenue by the end of the first year.

Future pod commuters will be able to download a special smartphone app to book and pay for the pod journeys.

The 20 trial pods will have steering wheels or joysticks for controls, but will pretty much be able to drive themselves.

The Government project hopes to cut down traffic, pollution and driver stress and one day the technology could be extended to major roads as well.

“People basically come into MK on the train and they want to go to the city centre, or there is a very large office community around the train station and they may actually want to go to the city centre for a short period and come back,” said Jon Beasley, Programme Director from the Transport Systems Catapult, one of the project’s collaborators.

“Basically it gives them the option to get to the city centre comfortably, safely, they can continue processing and doing work, reading emails, reading papers whilst they go to the city centre itself. So they don’t have to concentrate in the long term how they drive these things.”

Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 already uses a similar type of pod, also designed by Ultra Global, but the Milton Keynes’ versions will have GPS, high-definition cameras and sensors to navigate and avoid pedestrians.

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



Via: Sky News

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Samsung Galaxy S5 camera to sport 16MP ISOCELL sensor

New Samsung Galaxy S5 leaks have appeared with the upcoming handset tipped to benefit from a 16-megapixel rear-mounted camera with an ISOCELL sensor.

Offering a range of details on future product developments at its annual Analyst Day in Seoul, South Korea yesterday, Samsung has hinted that the Samsung Galaxy S5 camera will see its flagship phone line make the jump to a new 16-megapixel ISOCELL sensor.

Suggesting that the improved camera optics will be used as the “main sensor” for its leading smartphone offerings in 2014, the manufacturer has all but confirmed that the 16-megapixel snapper will be fitted to not only the Samsung Galaxy S5, but the larger, stylus-bragging Samsung Galaxy Note 4 too.

With the Samsung Galaxy S4 currently running a 13-megapixel snapper, the ISOCELL elements of the S5 camera will enable the phone to offer better low-light shooting, as well as improving colour reproduction and image sharpness.

Far from the only Samsung Galaxy S5 feature to be teased at the Samsung Analyst Day, yesterday it was suggested that the phone, already tipped for a Q1 2014 unveiling, will play host to a new 2560 x 1440 pixel display.

As well as an improved resolution, the WQHD panel will reportedly see a staggering 550 pixels-per-inch image density introduced, making the S5 a considerable step above its smartphone rivals in visual terms.

Other Samsung Galaxy S5 specs already confirmed include the move to an iPhone 5S mimicking 64-bit processor.

Responding to questions on the subject recently, Samsung’s CEO of Mobile, Shin Jong-Kyun stated: “Yes, our next smartphones will have 64-bit processing functionality.”



Next, read the latest iPhone 6 news and rumours

Via: SamMobile

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