Huawei confirms it is working on new product lines, possibly wearables

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei has confirmed that it is working on new product lines ahead of potential unveilings at MWC 2014.

Although the company has failed to detail exactly what categories the new product lines will fall into, the ZTE and HTC rival has suggested that it will build on its 2013 array of smartphones, phablets and tablets with all new product sectors in the coming months.

Having officially unveiled the second-generation Huawei Ascend Mate 2 at CES 2014 Jerry Huang, the company’s Director of Marketing told TrustedReviews: “Not only are we continuing with our existing product lines, we are also creating something new.”

Teasing vague details of the upcoming products, Huang added: “We are starting with the latest trends and also with some new hot topics and we will try our best to create some great user experiences.”

While the company has failed to declare exactly when its new product lines will drop, the Chinese firm made reference to next month’s MWC 2014 conference in adding: “We will show you later, we will surprise you later.”

Speaking with TrustedReviews last year, Huawei confirmed that it was working on its first wearable gadgets, while company executives have also previously made reference to a Huawei branded Google Glass rival.

“Wearable technologies is something that everybody is going to be doing, without question, everybody,” Nick Woodley, Head of ID Design at Huawei’s London design offices told TrustedReviews before confirming Huawei’s own efforts in the industry.

Elsewhere at MWC 2013, Huawei’s Product Manager Richard Yu stated: “I wish we could show you what we are working on for over the next five to ten years, including glasses.”

TrustedReviews will be on hand at MWC 2013 this February to bring you all the latest announcements, including Huawei’s new product lines.

Read More: Huawei Ascend P6 Review

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Alienware: We will launch new Steam Machines every year

Having officially unveiled its first Steam Machine console last week at CES 2014, gaming specialist Alienware has confirmed that it intends to launch new models every year.

Speaking out on its first Steam Machine, the Dell owned company has revealed that due to a lack of upgrade options on the Steam OS powered console, it will be forced to launch new models every 12 months.

“Lifecycle wise, consoles update every five, six, seven years, we will be updating our Steam Machines every year,” Frank Azor, Alienware’s General Manager told TrustedReviews.

Detailing the need for annual Alienware Steam Machine launches, Azor stated: “There will be no customisation options, you can’t really update it.” Despite the lack of customisation options he added: “The platform will continue to evolve as the games become more resource intensive.”

Given that the Alienware Steam Machine will be priced comparably with the £429 Xbox One, the lack of upgrade and customisation options on the digital-content based console is sure to deter many gamers from jumping aboard for the first-generation consoles.

For those after more upgrade options, Alienware has suggested that a more traditional gaming PC might be more fitting.

Azor stated: “There will be some configuration options when you purchase it, maybe you can get a faster CPU, maybe some more memory something like that.

“If you actually want to customise your Alienware Steam Machine, maybe change your graphics card out or put in a new CPU, you would be better off with the standard Alienware X51. This particular product is restricted in its upgrade options.”

For those who are open to annual hardware refreshes, the Steam OS innards of the Alienware Steam Machine will ensure that the transition is as fluid as possible.

“The amazing thing about Steam is that you won’t have to repurchase your games,” the Alienware MD said. “If you update your hardware, your games will still be there and work.”

Read More: A guide to SteamOS

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PlayStation Now UK launch tipped for Q1 2015

Sony isn’t expected to launch PlayStation Now in the UK until Q1 2015, according to a new report.

The PlayStation Now game streaming service was announced at CES 2014, but was only confirmed for the US.

However, Eurogamer has obtained a slide from an official Sony PlayStation Now presentation that reveals the launch timeline for the service.

The slide pegs a European launch for Q1 2015, so you’ve got a year to wait until Sony’s PlayStation streaming service arrives in the UK.

Even Japan and Korea will have to wait, as they won’t even get PS Now until the end of Q4 2014.

Despite the slide indicating a Q2 2014 launch for the US and Canada, Eurogamer sources suggest the full launch won’t happen until Q3 2014.

All PlayStation platforms, including the PS3 and PS Vita will be available from the middle of Q2 2014, after the initial PS4 compatibility.

SEL devices, including Bravia TVs will be added at the start of Q4 2014, followed by unknown “partner devices” before the year’s end.

PlayStation Now was officially announced at CES 2014 and will enable gamers to stream PlayStation titles from the PlayStation cloud to connected devices like the PS4, Bravia TVs, the PS Vita, tablets and the PS4.

Gamers will have the option to rent individual titles from PlayStation Now or sign up for full library access via subscription. It’s unknown how much this subscription will cost, but it will not be included within the PlayStation Plus subscription price.

Sony has yet to officially announce a PlayStation Now UK release date, having only announced a loose “summer 2014” US launch. In fact, it’s yet to even discuss whether the service will launch outside the US.

Read more: PS4 vs Xbox One

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HTC M8 to feature twin-sensor UltraPixel camera?

The HTC M8 could feature a twin-sensor UltraPixel camera according to a new rumour.

Along with a larger display, the HTC One follow-on could upgrade its UltraPixel rear camera with a twin-sensor.

Citing a “person with direct knowledge of the plans”, Bloomberg has obtained information suggesting the HTC M8 will feature a twin-sensor rear camera to improve camera performance

It will be an improved version of the UltraPixel camera, but the twin-sensors will improve depth of field, image quality and better focus, according to the source.

The improved camera will be coupled with a larger screen size somewhere between the One’s 4.7-inch screen and the 5.9-inch HTC One Max.

Previous specs leaks put the screen size of the HTC One Two at 5-inches, with a Full 1080p HD resolution running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor.

Other rumoured specs include Android 4.4 KitKat, HTC Sense 6.0 UI and 2GB of RAM.

Earlier this week, two HTC M8 cases leaked suggesting it will feature an integrated fingerprint scanner just as the One Max.

The cases showed a large hole for what is thought to be an enhanced fingerprint scanner, very evidently different in shape to the HTC One Max’s rear scanner.

HTC is opting for a more invasive fingerprint scanner position, unlike the Touch ID sensor built into the home button of the iPhone 5S from Apple.

The HTC M8 is strongly expected to make an official appearance at MWC 2014, or at a dedicated event just before the Barcelona-based technology show.

This time last year, the Taiwanese company was gearing up to launch the HTC One at a special London-based event prior to MWC.

Read more: HTC One tips and tricks

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Samsung Galaxy Gear follow-ons teased by manufacturer

Samsung has hinted that new members of the Samsung Galaxy Gear wearables family are in the works, suggesting the original model will be followed by a ‘halo effect of products’.

Having launched the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch at IFA 2013 back in September, a number of reports have claimed the Korean manufacturer is already working towards the launch of a second-generation Gear alongside the Samsung Galaxy S5 later this quarter.

Although the company has failed to confirm any timings or product names, Samsung has hinted that it expects the Samsung Galaxy Gear to be the first of many wearables it produces.

“We always have a flagship product first, and the Gear was a flagship product for us,” Kyle Brown, Samsung’s Head of Technical Product Management for IM said of the smartwatch. Questioned on Samsung’s future wearable releases he teased: “Now there will be a halo effect.”

He added: “Other manufacturers will learn from what we have done and what we’ve achieved with Galaxy Gear, but Samsung will also be learning and we’re ahead from the beginning as we know what we did the first time.

“We did all the research; we talked to customers and were constantly working on how to develop the Gear and the Gear UI for the future.”

As well as looking to the future, Samsung has looked back over the original Samsung Galaxy Gear, telling TrustedReviews that it was a considerable risk producing a high-profile smartwatch before many of its major rivals.

“There is always going to be that risk [with going first], but Samsung has never been afraid to lead in any technology,” Brown said. “If we believe that the offering we have made is compelling enough for our consumers to be happy and to want to purchase it, we are going to go with it, regardless of any potential criticism.”

Despite the Samsung Galaxy Gear packing in a raft of features from an integrated camera, touchscreen display and wrist-based calling abilities, the timepiece came under criticism for its lofty £300 price tag and limited compatibility.

“There is an element of Samsung where the best technology available on the market is what we want to offer to our customers and this is a purchase that most customers on the street will have not of thought of,” Samsung’s IM head said. “They will not have thought ‘I’m going to spend X amount on a smartwatch to work with my phone’. We had to make it the best that it could possibly be to get any traction on the market.”

Read More: Sony SmartWatch 2 Review

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UK broadband “ready for game streaming”, says Ofcom

Could your home broadband support game streaming?

Ofcom and games streaming specialist OnLive believe UK broadband speeds are “ready for game streaming” services.

UK regulator Ofcom and OnLive believe the UK’s fibre optic broadband will open up game streaming for more people.

The declaration comes following the PlayStation Now announcement at CES 2014, which allows US gamers stream PlayStation titles on the PS4, PS Vita, smart TVs, tablets and other devices.

Sony stated that the service would need a broadband speed of 5mb for a “good experience” for the game streaming service.

Ofcom and OnLive believe the UK’s broadband is easily sufficient to support such a service.

“In May 2013, the UK average peak-time download speed was 14.2Mbps”, said an Ofcom spokesperson. “Our panel is selected so it is representative of the UK population as a whole and our test results are weighted to make them fully representative.”

We’re not so sure about Ofcom’s claimed average broadband speed and tend to support Netflix’s claim that our average speed is just 2.48Mbps across the country.

OnLive claims the average UK broadband speed is rising all the time, and although not everyone could currently support game streaming, the majority would be capable.

“Back when Onlive was first announced, there was scepticism around whether game streaming could even work,” said Bruce Grove, GM of OnLive. “We will always be dependent on network infrastructure and broadband speeds being able to support the platform.”

“Not everyone has the infrastructure, but clearly many people now do. Over the last few years we’ve seen increased fibre deployments and people now routinely have 20Mbps, many can get 100Mbps or greater.”

Based on Gaikai game streaming technology, the PlayStation Now service offers PlayStation titles outside the boundary of their associated consoles.

All the games will be stored in the cloud, up to date and ready to pick up and play on any compatible device.

Unfortunately it’s only available in the US for now, but hopefully Sony will expand the service to more countries in the future.

“Sony has clearly seen the importance of game streaming as one of the ways players will want to access gaming libraries, and that in itself is an important validation of this sector”, added Grove.

Via: MCV

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Sony patents bizarre transforming PlayStation Move controller

Sony has filed a patent for a rather bizarre PlayStation Move controller that can be assembled to form different shapes.

A new PlayStation Move controller patent has been filed by Sony and could open up augmented reality gaming on the PS4.

The build-your-own PlayStation Move controller is formed by different blocks, with sensors located at a pivot or connection points that help represent in-game items.

“A block tool, which can be assembled by a user, is configured with multiple types of blocks and is shot by a camera for capturing a still image or a moving image. The position coordinates of a marker of the square-pillar block in a three-dimensional space are obtained by image recognition”, reads the patent.

Along with the patent, published January 16 2013, Sony has included a range of diagrams that illustrate how this next-generation PlayStation Move controller can be configured to represent different weapons and characters.

In one illustration the controller is used to represent a shotgun, machine gun and a knife just by the arrangement of the blocks. In another, the configuration represents an on-screen bat and in another it’s a person.

“Also, a connecting position and the type of each block, a gradient vector of the square-pillar block, an angle between two blocks constituting the square-pillar block, and the respective blocks' lengths are obtained so as to derive the shape, posture, and position of the block tool, and corresponding information processing is then performed.”

By being able to transform the PlayStation Move controller into the thing it represents, Sony could help immerse the player into the project AR environment. This would be especially enhanced if the next-gen PlayStation Move controller made use of haptic feedback.

The different assembly forms of the controller would be picked up by the PS4 PlayStation Camera peripheral.

From the looks of the patent filing, the transforming PlayStation Move 2 controller would have at least eight parts, but you could add more to create more complicated constructions like the bat, which uses two PlayStation Move orbs.

Late last year, Sony filed another patent for a second-generation PlayStation Move controller for PS4 that was more akin to the original PlayStation Move.

Read more: Best PS4 games

Via: NeoGAF

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Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad Air Tablet Review

What is the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio?

As if to alleviate any doubt, Logitech seems determined to answer this question in full using just the name. As its title suggests this a folio case with a keyboard, while the 'FabricSkin' part refers to how the keyboard and outer shell are splashproof. It's Logitech's second attempt at such a case and it doesn't come cheap at £119, but it has a lot of plusses if you can overlook the price.

FabricSkin Keyboard Folio: Design

This version is a serious step up from the original FabricSkin Keyboard Folio. It still protects the front and rear of the iPad, but this version trades the soft touch material of the original for a hardier, more satisfying textile material over a hard plastic shell.

The combination gives the FabricSkin Keyboard Portfolio a more tactile feel, but just as important it's thinner and lighter than before. The old version, admittedly using a heavier iPad, weighed in comfortably over 1kg combined. An iPad Air and this Folio, however, are a more manageable 880g. It's a still a fair bit heavier than an iPad Air on its own, but it's far more in line with Logitech's popular Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad Air than before.

SEE ALSO: Best Tablets round-up

This makes the FabricSkin a far more viable solution for anyone who wants a Folio-style keyboard and case in one, but doesn't want to sacrifice too much portability. It helps, too, that in this incarnation the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio looks very classy. The textile exterior looks far more professional and smart, while the choice of either a white or a (rather fetching to our eyes) yellow interior gives you a little choice.

All these improvements are great and the Folio's best feature remains: the magnetic clasp. This holds the iPad in place when in typing mode, with the Bluetooth connection automatically engaging (or disengaging) when its activated. It's a neat, very user-friendly touch that means you're never left wondering whether the keyboard is connected or not and saves on battery life -- Logitech claims up to three months when used around three hours per day.

One final plus point is that's it's very easy to remove your iPad when you want to, so you don't have to put up with the extra bulk when you just want to read a book or magazine. Our only irksome criticism of the design is the mute toggle switch is very hard to access when using the case, but it's an annoyance we can just about tolerate.

SEE ALSO: Best Android Tablets round-up

FabricSkin Keyboard Folio: Keyboard

So far, so positive, but there's no escaping that the actual typing experience on the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio is a step below due to the fact it's a not a physical keyboard in the traditional sense. Instead the keys are like a soft membrane above actuators, which gives the keys a slightly sluggish, spongy feel that takes a little getting used to.

The layout is also a little compromised. The 'Q' and 'A' keys on the left are merged with the Tab and Caps Lock keys respectively, which means everything feels a little off-kilter at first. You'll get used to this layout after a while, though, and apart from these small liberties the basic layout is fairly standard.

In fact, there are some nice iPad-only secondary functions, such as the selection shortcut on the arrow keys that lets you select whole words rather than individual characters. The only slight gripe, and it is a small one, is things like playback and volume controls are actually third functions, not even primary or secondary ones, on the top row of number keys. Irritating as this might seem, however, it means the usual secondary functions remain unaffected.

Overall, while we imagine many people will dismiss the keyboard out of hand, it's worth persevering with -- it's certainly won us over after a couple of weeks.

Should I buy the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad Air?

This really comes down to how much you're willing to spend to get what the FabricSkin offers. It's by no means perfect as the typing experience takes a little getting used to and the FabricSkin adds a fair amount of heft, but it's the simplest, most elegant folio keyboard we've come across and is stylish to boot.

If you want the absolutle best typing experience possible then the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard is still the one to go for, but the FabricSkin is a great alternative if you want a keyboard and all-in-one protection.

Verdict

A neat, innovative but rather pricey folio keyboard for iPad Air, but a good one if you can justify the price.

Next, read our Tablet Buyer's Guide

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BBM Windows Phone app still not in the works says BlackBerry

BlackBerry has suggested that there are still no plans to launch a BBM Windows Phone app despite having brought the messaging service to iOS and Android.

Despite the iOS and Android iterations of the free-to-use BBM messaging app secure a staggering 10 million day one downloads late last year, the Canadian manufacturer as claimed that there is still not enough consumer demand to warrant a BBM Windows Phone app.

“It [the continuing lack of a BBM Windows Phone app] is entirely market driven,” David Proulx, BlackBerry’s Senior Director of BBM Business Development said while speaking with TrustedReviews. “Our initial launch on iOS and Android was a function of the prevalence of those platforms.”

Although confirming there is no plan for a BBM Windows Phone app just yet, Proulx has failed to rule out the future launch of such a service.

He stated: “As other platforms emerge, whichever they may be, we will execute on those platforms as well.”

Looking to justify the company’s lack of support for the growing Microsoft OS, Proulx added: “It is not a statement of intent, and it’s not a strategic or religious thing, it’s just a function of when does it make sense and when is it something that consumers demand in sufficient numbers to make it worth our while and worth their while.”

Although the Windows Phone platform has traditionally struggled to attract top-flight developers and applications, in recent months the emerging OS has gone from strength-to-strength.

As well as seeing rapidly increasing market share, the Windows Phone platform has benefitted from the likes of Instagram, WhatsApp and Vine apps all hitting the Windows Phone App Store.

Read More: Nokia Lumia 1520 Review

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Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 Tablet Review

What is the Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4?

The Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 is a part of Samsung’s new business-orientated tablet line and a direct rival to the iPad mini 2. With a stunning 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution display, the smallest of the three new TabPRO models pairs its premium specs sheet with the company’s new Magazine UX interface. The tablet is also available in 10.1 and 12.2-inch forms. Finalised pricing is yet to be announced, but a Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 release date has been set for the latter part of Q1 2014.

Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4: Design

Cut from the same mould as Samsung’s recent tablet efforts, the Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 is a plastic clad unit, with the cheaper construction materials again giving the device a less premium feel and appearance than some of its rivals.

The 8.4-inch body measures in at just 7.2mm thick and 21.9cm wide, meaning it is slim enough to be held, comfortably, in a single hand. What’s more, the streamlined 336g weight is evenly distributed across the tablet’s full form, giving it a comfortably balance when held single-handed.

Although the leather-effect rear, similar to that found on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, is again a disappointingly tacky addition, the tablet’s plastic body is less flimsy than its larger siblings. Thanks to its compact nature the TabPRO 8.4 suffers from only minor bending when put under pressure. In contrast, the 12.2-inch model suffers from frankly ridiculous levels of unwanted flexing.

Set to be made available in both black and white colour schemes, the Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 features the usual Android touch buttons and benefits from a relatively streamlined bezel that further enhances the already impressive display.

Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4: Screen

Undoubtedly, the tablet’s biggest talking point, the Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 screen is, in short, stunning. With a 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution, the WXQGA LCD panel offers beautifully sharp, vibrant images that suffer from no pixilation or graining issues.

As tends to be the case on Samsung’s mobile products, the TabPRO 8.4’s colour gamut, on first impressions at least, appeared a little warm and over saturated. Text is pin-sharp, however, and images impressively detailed and immersive.

The tablet’s 16:9 aspect ratio makes it ideal for multimedia consumption, with early video playback tests blowing us away thanks to smooth flowing, crisp visual content and half-decent inbuilt audio.

Responsive to the touch, the Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4’s screen was able to tackle all manner of multi-finger gesture controls without the slightest hint of fuss. Strangely, for such a business-themed tablet, Samsung has not bestowed the TabPRO 8.4 with an integrated stylus, instead saving its S-Pen add-on for the larger NotePRO 12.2 offering.

Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4:Software and Performance

The new Magazine UX is one of the Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4’s main talking points and one which, based on first impressions, looks set to make the tablet a far more engaging device than past Samsung offerings.

Gone is the traditional point-and-shoot icon-based TouchWiz UI, in is a more immersive software overlay, bringing more detail direct to the user. Removing the need to jump in and out of multiple applications to get to desired information, the Magazine UX is something of a halfway house between Android and Windows 8.

Powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM, the tablet is speedy from the off, showing no signs of lagging or slow boot times during early use. Further testing will be required before final judgement can be passed on the tablet’s performance.

Aiding its business ilk, the TabPRO 8.4 comes with a range of software pre-installed, from Samsung’s own word processing and presentation software to Easilydo Pro and Remote PC capabilities.

Sadly, due to the tablet’s compact size, the TabPRO 8.4 does not offer enough on-screen real estate to display a full digital keyboard such as that introduced on the Samsung Galaxy NotePRO 12.2. Instead the standard, reduced tablet offering is present, limiting the device’s laptop-replacing credentials.

Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4: Features

As you would expect from a modern tablet, the Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 throws its business credentials up in the air to make room for integrated cameras front and rear. While the 2-megapixel forward-facing snapper can be utilised for video calls, the 8-megapixel camera is more for entertainment purposes.

Based on early use in less than ideal lighting conditions, this camera collection is distinctly average, offering largely flat, stilted images that failed to capture the atmosphere of the pictures. Although colours were washy and shots grainy, we will need to further test the cameras in our upcoming Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 review before damming them completely.

Set to launch in both 16GB and 32GB storage options, the Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4’s capacity can be expanded by microSD up to 64GB.

With a 4800mAh Lithium-Ion battery under the hood, a full day’s use should be within reach, although further testing is required in this area.

First Impressions

While Samsung’s current trend is to make things bigger, the peewee Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 is the most enticing of the company’s new ‘PRO’ branded tablets. With a more solid feel and slightly more appealing aesthetics than the larger options, the TabPRO 8.4 is the closest the manufacturer has come to a true iPad rival.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo passes through FCC ahead of MWC launch

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo has been spotted passing through the FCC, suggesting its launch is imminent.

Original rumours tipped the Galaxy Note 3 Neo for a launch in the first quarter of 2014, which is looking more and more likely because of the FCC filing.

The Galaxy Note 3 Neo will be a smaller, more affordable version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 smartphone and should be officially unveiled at MWC 2014.

Spotted numerous times with the model number SM-N750/5, the Galaxy Note 3 Neo was snapped next to the Note 3 earlier this month.

Specs place the Note 3 Neo in between the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Note 3, with the majority of the specs pinched from the former, while the design (including the fake-leather back plate) taken from the latter.

IT should have a 5.55-inch 720p HD Super AMOLED display and have 16GB of internal storage bolstered by a microSD card slot.

Powered by a 3,100mAh battery, the Note 3 Neo will run Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and have 2GB of RAM and an 8-megapixel rear camera.

Like the Note 3, it will also benefits from S Pen stylus features, including Air Command Memo, Scrapbook, S Finder, Pen Window, S Note and Direct Pen input.

Building on the Note 2 specs though, the Note 3 Neo is expected to feature a rather unusual 1.7GHz plus 1.3GHz hexa-core processor. All six cores will be able to run at the same time, unlike the Samsung octa-core processors.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo should be unveiled alongside the Samsung Galaxy S5 at a special event after MWC 2014 in February.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 tips and tricks

Via: Sammobile

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LG G3 release date tipped for May 17

Could the LG G2 arrive in May? Probably not

The LG G3 release date has been tipped for May 17, but we doubt this will be anywhere near the real launch.

We don’t doubt that LG is already working on the LG G2 successor, but the idea it may launch as early as May 17 is a little farfetched.

The alleged release date comes from reports in the Korean media, scheduling a LG G3 launch just nine months after the September LG G2 release date, which seems rather unlikely.

Something else that puts the kibosh on a May 17 release date for the LG G3 is the fact the date falls on a Saturday, a very unusual day for a company to launch a flagship device.

However, the rumoured LG G3 specs may be a little closer to the truth, and suggest the handset will be a direct rival for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5.

Leaked specs tip the LG G3 to come with a 5.5-inch 2,560 x 1,440p 2K resolution display and run on LG’s own Odin processor rather than the Qualcomm alternatives.

It could also feature a 16-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilisation. We expect LG may even retain the LG G2’s trademark rear buttons for the LG G3 when it eventually launches later this year.

The Korean media sources also suggested LG could launch the LG G Pro 2 phablet at MWC 2014, complete with a 5.9-inch QHD resolution display.

As usual, we advise you take the above information with a rather large dollop of salt as it would be very unusual for LG to deviate from its annual launch cycle, unless it intends to compete more directly with HTC and Samsung.

Read more: LG G Flex vs LG G2

Via: Phone Arena

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Panasonic tipped to launch rugged smartphone at MWC 2014

Panasonic is reportedly preparing to re-enter the smartphone market with a rugged handset at MWC 2014.

The last phone Panasonic launched was the Panasonic Eluga at MWC 2012 – a waterproof mobile that really didn’t do very well at all.

In fact, the Eluga was such a disaster, Panasonic pulled out of the smartphone market completely in 2013.

However, MWC 2014 could be where it makes its smartphone comeback with a rugged, shock proof handset.

According to Japanese site, Asahi, Panasonic is preparing a shockproof smartphone for an MWC launch, but didn’t actually received much info about the device.

All we know so far from the unnamed sources is that the mystery device will have a 5-inch screen.

It is suggested that the Panasonic 2014 smartphone will be aimed at construction site workers and other similar users, meaning it may not be aimed at the general mainstream market.

Panasonic is supposedly already in talks with construction companies in the US to form partnerships for the device come launch.

Unfortunately that’s all the information we have so far on Panasonic’s alleged re-entry into the smartphone market.

The device sounds rather niche, so we expect it could potentially follow in the Eluga’s footsteps if Panasonic doesn’t manage to pull off a major partnership.

Read more: Top 5 worst tech gadgets of 2013

Via: GforGames

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Alcatel to launch solar powered smartphone 'within 12 months'

Alcatel has confirmed that it will launch a new solar powered smartphone within the next 12 months, with the handset’s sun-loving panel to be built within its screen.

Bringing solar powered portable gadgets in to the modern era, the French phone manufacturer has showcased a concept solar phone that, instead of boasting an ugly light panel on its rear, builds a transparent solar panel within the phone’s touchscreen display.

“A couple of months ago we partnered with a company and said ‘let’s try make a transparent solar panel’,” Dan Dery, Alcatel’s Global Vice President of Marketing told TrustedReviews. “It seemed crazy but now we have a working prototype where we have put solar cells over the touchpanel of a display.”

Discussing the future of the battery-saving technology he added: “We are not going to market with the solar phone quite yet. It is probably going to take us another nine to 12 months in order to make sure that the efficiency of the panel is absolutely fine and the transparency level is ok.

“Today the transparency is not where we want it to be – you can see a slight layer on top – but we are trying to see if we can include this within 12 months.”

With battery life being one of the biggest ongoing concerns for smartphone users, Dery has suggested that the transparent solar panel technology could help revolutionise the market, offering added staying power and reducing the reliance on power connectors.

“If you ask consumers what is there major concern, it is often that they have to carry a charger with them to charge their phone and with LTE coming this is getting worse because the content we enjoy requires more power,” he said.

“The target for the solar phone is that in an indoor environment it should be able to maintain an idol current so your phone battery is not depleting, outdoor under the sun it should charge, those are the targets we have.”

The Alcatel VP added: “We are not too far away from this efficiency but currently not quite there. I think we are the only one in the world to demonstrate that.”

While there are concerns this new technology will add a premium to any handset’s price tag, Dery has reassured that the company’s solar powered phone will not dent your wallet.

“If this would require us to bring the phone to a crazy price we would not do that,” he told us. “Everything is about what we can do for normal consumers, those who are not ready to spend $600 every year for a new phone.”

Read More: Alcatel One Touch Idol Review

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Amazon Kindle Fire price cut by £25

Amazon has been crowned the number one UK retailer for customer satisfaction and is celebrating by offering £25 off the Kindle Fire tablet range.

Over Christmas, Amazon was voted the UK’s number one retailer for customer satisfaction for the seventh year in a row according to the Foresee Experience Index: UK Retail Edition.

Understandably, the online retail giant’s UK arm felt the need to celebrate its successes and is offering Amazon Kindle Fire discounts of £25.

“For the seventh consecutive year, customers rank Amazon #1 in customer satisfaction. As a thank you to customers for the continued support, we’re taking £25 off Kindle Fire tablets for a limited time”, explains the online retail giant.

The £25 discount is valid on all versions of the Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Kindle Fire HDX and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 and can be applied at checkout by entering MAYDAY25.

Amazon’s Kindle Fire discount is only offered for a limited time though, so you’ll need to use the code before it expires at 11.59pm on January 20.

The Amazon Kindle Fire HD can be purchased from £94 with the promotional discount for an 8GB model.

Amazon’s Kindle Fire HDX 7 starts at £174 with the offer for a 16GB model, and the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 starts at £304 for 16GB of internal storage.

Although the MAYDAY25 code can be applied to the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9, it’s not really worth it. Amazon is already offering £50 off the HD 8.9, priced at £179 down from its original price of £229.



Read more: Google Nexus 7 2 vs Kindle Fire HDX 7 vs HDX 8.9

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NSA collects daily data from over 200m text messages around the world

The US National Security Agency (NSA) has collected and stored data from over 200 million text messages daily from users across the world.

According to UK spies part of a joint investigation by the Guardian and Channel 4, the NDA extracts and stores the data from your SMS messages.

The investigation discovered the NSA’s activities through material leaked by ex-NSA employee, and whistleblower, Edward Snowden.

From the “untargeted” collection and storage of over 200 million texts per day, the NSA gains personal information like your location, credit card details and contact networks, according to the documents leaked.

The NSA program, codenamed Dishfire, collects “pretty much everything it can”, according to documents held by the UK spy agency GCHQ, rather than only from surveillance targets.

GCHQ has used the information obtained by Dishfire to search the metadata of “untargeted and unwarranted” communications of UK citizens.

“The implication that NSA’s collection is arbitrary and unconstrained is false,” said the NSA in a statement. “NSA’s activities are focused and specifically deployed against – and only against – valid foreign intelligence targets in response to intelligence requirements.”

The GCHQ also stated that all its work was “carried out in accordance with the strict legal and policy framework.”

In addition to storing the SMS data, the NSA also employs a program called “Prefer” to conduct automated analysis on all the communications.

According to the investigation’s findings, the NSA is able to extract the following each day:

• More than 5 million missed-call alerts, for use in contact-sharing analysis


• Details of 1.6 million border crossings a day, from network roaming alerts


• More than 110,000 names from electronic business cards, which also included the ability to extract and save images


• Over 800,000 financial transactions, either through text-to-text payments or linking credit cards to phones

The GCHQ isn’t allowed to trawl the NSA data unless it has a warrant, and a memo sets out clearly what access to Dishfire is allowed. It does clearly state that Dishfire’s unique property is that it stores a huge amount of untargeted and unselected information.

“In contrast to [most] GCHQ equivalents, DISHFIRE contains a large volume of unselected SMS traffic. This makes it particularly useful for the development of new targets, since it is possible to examine the content of messages sent months or even years before the target was known to be of interest”, reads the GCHQ memo.

Read more: Best mobile phones of 2014

Via: The Guardian

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Nintendo slashes Wii U sales forecast and predicts loss

Nintendo has revised its earnings forecast dramatically following continued dismal sales of the Wii U and its software.

Since April the Kyoto-based video games company has predicted an operating profit of ¥100 billion for the year. That figure appears to be way off the mark, judging by Nintendo’s recent announcement.

Nintendo is now predicting a crushing ¥35 billion (£205.4 million) loss, which would make it two years in a row for such a result. Last year, the company recorded a ¥36.41 billion loss.

It’s easy to see where the problem lies, with Wii U sales considering to underwhelm. Besides announcing its loss predictions, Nintendo also revealed that it expects to sell just 2.8 million Wii U consoles in the financial year. That’s down from a previous prediction of 9 million.

With less than half a million sales in the first half of the year, Nintendo would have been looking at a Christmas sales miracle to come anywhere near that 9 million figure - despite the fact that it slashed the price of the Wii U in the UK and US markets.

Still, the cold hard figures still make for painful reading for Nintendo fans.

Poor hardware sales have had a knock-on effect for software, which is where the real money is made in this business. "Software sales with a relatively high margin were significantly lower than our original forecasts mainly due to the fact that hardware sales did not reach their expected level," explains Nintendo’s statement.

Nintendo actually produced some excellent games towards the end of 2013, including The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and Super Mario 3D World, which was heralded by critics as one of the finest in the series.

But without sufficient Wii U owners out there to capitalise on this strong software, Nintendo appears to have been cut adrift of the new console generation while the PS4 and Xbox One continue to make waves.



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

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Google contact lens officially unveiled

Google contact lens prototype

Google has announced a new smart contact lens project, but it’s got a much more specific and serious application than a simple Google Glass follow-up.

The new project is aimed at helping those with diabetes to monitor their condition more quickly and painlessly.

As explained on the official Google blogspot, scientists are constantly looking into new non-invasive ways for a diabetes sufferer to monitor your glucose levels. One possible avenue is a person’s tears, but these are hard to capture and monitor.

Step forward the Google contact lens, which Google hopes will be able to measure glucose levels in a person’s tears more accurately. Each lens contains "chips and sensors so small they look like bits of glitter, and an antenna thinner than a human hair."

This wireless chip and glucose sensor is sandwiched between two layers of soft contact lens material.

Current prototypes can apparently obtain a glucose level reading once per second. Google is investigating the possibility of an early warning system when Glucose levels look set to spike by utilising tiny embedded LED lights.

Google says that it is some way away from devising a definitive solution, but that it’s working with the FDA and actively seeking new expert partners who can help bring this kind of medical product to market.

Some of these partners include developers who could produce apps for relaying the product’s information to users and doctors.

This might not be the next step in wearable smart devices that you might have been hoping for, but it could have far more immediate and important benefits. As Google concludes:

"We’ve always said that we’d seek out projects that seem a bit speculative or strange, and at a time when the International Diabetes Federation (PDF) is declaring that the world is 'losing the battle' against diabetes, we thought this project was worth a shot."



Read More: Google Glass – The Privacy Problem

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Toshiba 84L9363DB TV Review

What is the Toshiba 84L9363DB?

The Toshiba 84L9363DB is one of the most exciting TV prospects to appear on our test benches in recent times. Why? First its screen is 84- inches across. Second, it’s got a native 4K/Ultra-HD resolution. And finally and most excitingly of all, it costs just £7,000... which is really very low indeed for such a large screen with a 4K resolution when consider 84-inch 4K TVs from Samsung and LG cost £35k and £15k respectively. It is, in other words, five times less than Samsung's and half the price of the LG.



SEE ALSO: What is 4K TV and Ultra HD? 10 reasons why you should care

Toshiba 84L9363DB: Design and Features

The 84L9363DB is a serious chunk of telly. Even though we’re now routinely facing down ever-bigger TVs on our test benches, the sight of an 84-inch screen still has the power to stop us in our tracks. And the huge screen acreage is surrounded by a good inch of frame to further the set’s impact on your living space.

This frame isn’t particularly glamorous overall, though the way the main black colour of the bezel contrasts with a silver metallic strip along the bottom edge and the use of a wide, two-post silver desktop stand certainly ensure Toshiba’s 4K brute can’t be called ugly.

Connections on the Toshiba 84L9363DB are comprehensive. Heading things up are four HDMIs, capable of handling both 3D and 4K/UHD source streams. The supported 4K/UHD streams do not currently include 50/60Hz native 4K, though. This support should be coming via a firmware update at some point, though there’s no firm date for this yet, and while Toshiba won’t be drawn on the precise details of how its set might overcome the 4K data bandwidth problems of HDMI 1.4 jacks, it seems likely that the 84L9363DB’s 50/60Hz support will come at the expense of a degree of colour resolution versus the full colour bandwidth offered by the HDMI 2.0-equipped Panasonic L65WT600.

When it comes to the multimedia support any high-end TV needs these days the 84L9363DB is again well-connected, with highlights including an SD card slot, two USB ports (which can be used for recording from the built-in Freeview HD and satellite tuners as well as playing back multimedia from USB devices), and both LAN and built-in Wi-Fi network options.

The network options support DLNA streaming from networked PCs but also, of course, let you take the TV online with Toshiba’s Cloud TV system.

Covered extensively in our Toshiba Cloud TV review and distinguished by a handy second-screen electronic programme guide platform, Cloud TV is ultimately a disappointment compared with some of the latest rival smart TV platforms. Its interface is sluggish and its content levels are pretty limited, especially when it comes to the catch up TV and on demand video platforms that are the mainstay of any online TV platform.

SEE ALSO: Best 4K TVs

The 84L9363DB’s native 3840 x 2160 4K resolution is joined, as you would expect, by a powerful scaling system, the CEVO 4K Engine, for remapping HD and standard definition sources to the panel’s high pixel count.

There’s also some pretty extreme flexibility with the picture adjustments the Toshiba 84L9363DB carries, giving you almost infinite potential for getting images perfectly suited to your tastes -- or to meet established video industry colour standards. The sort of stuff we’re talking about includes a colour management system, colour temperature adjustment, white balance fine tuning and gamma calibration.

Also of note are a couple of options associated specifically with the 4K processing, namely Fine Texture and Brilliance Restoration, both of which feature auto and manual settings.

Other picture processing tools include an adaptive backlight control system for adjusting the image’s brightness to suit the source content, noise reduction processing, Toshiba’s ResolutionPlus sharpness booster (which can even work on native 4K content!) and Toshiba’s ClearScan system for reducing motion blur. Actually, the set uses one of Toshiba’s 800Hz-emulating AMR800 processing suites to counter LCD’s traditional motion problems.

Wrapping important features on the 84L9363DB up are its passive 3D system (with four pairs of glasses included free) and, of course, its price. The previous cheapest 84-inch 4K TV in town was the LG 84LM860V, which can now be had for around £15,000. So at just £7000 the 84L9363DB undercuts its nearest rival by an astonishing £8,000. This is one of the most remarkable price ‘achievements’ we’ve seen in the TV world, and the price gap to its nearest rival is comfortably large enough to potentially cut Toshiba’s 4K big boy some performance slack. So long as it’s not a complete dog’s dinner, of course.

Toshiba 84L9363DB: Set Up

You could simply select from the 84L9363DB’s unusually wide and reasonably well thought-through set of themed picture presets and leave set up there. But if you’ve got the time and the confidence the flexibility is there in the Toshiba 84L9363DB to make pictures look pretty much exactly how you or industry standards like Rec 709 want them to look – at least from a colour perspective.

Sticking with the most important set up tools, make sure all noise reduction circuitry is off when watching native 4K and even, we’d argue, upscaled HD, to stop images losing resolution. As we’ll discuss further in the picture performance section, we’d also personally opt to set ResolutionPlus on with native 4K fare, with the rider that you may need to turn it off if a 4K source is unusually grainy.

Toshiba’s ClearScan motion processing system should be handled with care, as it can make pictures look a bit unnatural, especially on its higher settings. And it also seemed to us to be the cause of some lip synch errors with some sources.

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Huawei: Networks didn’t believe we could make good smartphones

Having unveiled the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 at CES 2014, manufacturer Huawei has claimed that it originally struggled to make networks believe it could make decent smartphones.

Now, however, the Chinese company has risen to become the world’s third largest smartphone manufacturer and has set its sights on 80 million handset sales in 2014.

“Networks didn’t believe Huawei could make good smartphones,” Jerry Huang, Huawei’s Director of Marketing said speaking with TrustedReviews.

He added: “After years of investment in the smartphone area, we are more and more confident that we can achieve a greater market share in 2014.”

Detailing how the company has grown from these original knock backs, Huang stated: “Three years ago when we stepped in to the smartphone market, nobody at the partners believed Huawei could deliver the best smartphone experience to consumers.”

The Huawei Director added: “In the feature phone era, there were a lot of European operators that realised they needed to use Samsung to compete with the iPhone. They saw that as the one manufacturer who could spend a lot of money in brand building would find it easier to sell in the smartphone market.

“After years of trying, we delivered the P1. At the time partner feedback was good and consumer feedback was good but, to be honest with you, sales were not.”

Although Huawei has struggled to gain traction with both sellers and consumers, 2013 saw the Huawei Ascend P6 land as a metal bodied handset which took the mantle of the ‘world’s slimmest smartphone’.

As a result, the ZTE, HTC and Nokia rival has risen to be behind only Samsung and Apple in the smartphone production stakes, with consumers and networks both now giving more time to the company.

“Last year we had the P2 and the Mate and, with the Mate especially, sales results have been quite good,” Huang said.

“A lot of operators who had refused Huawei came back to us last year and asked us to buy our stocks. It has given us more confidence.”

He added: “We have years of learning and our partners have seen Huawei improving a lot.”

Read More: Huawei Ascend Mate Review

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HTC One Two to feature an integrated fingerprint scanner

New HTC One Two designs have leaked, with the prematurely unveiled body suggesting the upcoming phone will support an integrated fingerprint scanner.

With the oversized spinoff HTC One Max having launched late last year with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor in tow, leaked images of the upcoming HTC One follow-on have suggested that the biometric sensor will now be introduced to the flagship model.

Although far from official, the leaked HTC One Two images show cases for the upcoming handset. As well as the customary cut-outs for the rear-mounted camera and integrated LED flash, the accessory shows a large hole for what is believed to be an inbuilt fingerprint scanner.

While the iPhone 5S plays host to a TouchID fingerprint sensor, seamlessly built into the phone’s home button, the HTC One Two appears set to boasts its own finger reader in a more invasive manner.

Although the Taiwanese manufacturer has yet to offer any official word on the device, it is widely expected that the HTC One Two, a device also known as the HTC M8, will launch in mid-February, just days before MWC 2014 kicks off in Barcelona.

With the original HTC One having lined up with a 4.7-inch display, the second-gen option has been mooted to run a larger 5-inch, Full HD panel alongside a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat OS and a new Ultrapixel camera.

Recent HTC One Two rumours have hinted that the flagship phone will sport a refined metal unibody design, with the fingerprint sensor looking set to sit high up in the centre of the phone’s body. Elsewhere it has been suggested the phone will run 16GB of internal storage, 2GB of RAM and a 2900mAh Lithium-Ion battery.



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

Via: Gottabemobile

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Nokia Android phone UI leaked in new images, launch date teased

Nokia Android "Normandy" UI

New images of the Nokia Android UI have leaked online, with some suggesting they contain a launch date clue.

As the leaks become more frequent and revealing, it seems ever more likely that the Nokia “Normandy” Android phone will feature at MWC 2014 in January.

The latest Nokia Android UI snaps have arrived courtesy of long-time reliable tipster @evleaks and reveal a lot of information about the heavily rumoured Android smartphone.

“Two ways to interact with Normandy”, reads the tweet.

On the left hand side is what we believe to be two home screens from the Nokia Android phone. The bright, colourful blocks are very reminiscent of the Windows Phone 8 OS that Nokia is obviously trying to based its Android UI.

We expect that the Nokia Android UI will be very heavy, similar to the one used in devices like the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7.

However, on the right hand side is the Nokia Android notification centre, which is split into calendar alerts and other recent app notifications.

From the looks of it you’ll be able to respond to event invites directly from this notifications screen.

These UI images are very similar, but not exactly alike, the Nokia Android smartphone UI pictures leaked earlier this month.

Some have suggested that the latest screengrabs are actually press renders that Nokia will release when it launches the heavily rumoured Normandy smartphone.

If this is true, the calendar listing for Tuesday 25 may well be a hint to a Tuesday, February 25 launch, which would put it directly in the middle of MWC 2014.

Of course, this may be a little farfetched and an attempt to clutch at straws due to the lack of official information, but we hope there is a speck of truth to the rumours.

Read more: Best smartphones of 2014

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Nokia Lumia 1820 and Lumia 1525 specs leak ahead of MWC unveiling

Specs for the Nokia Lumia 1820 and Nokia Lumia 1525 have leaked online ahead of an official MWC unveiling.

Nokia could be making quite an impact at this year’s MWC if the latest leaked specs for its upcoming handsets turn out to be accurate.

Acccording to a brand new source named @NextLeaks, Nokia will launch the flagship Lumia 1820 and the Lumia 1525 phablet will be launched at the show.

Of course, this new tipster doesn’t have the proven track record of someone like @evleaks, but we really hope these specs are the real deal.

The Lumia 1820 will reportedly feature a 5.2-inch 2K 2048 x 1080p resolution display running on a quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor with 3GB of RAM.

It will be powered by a 3,400mAh battery, feature 32GB of internal storage and have a microSD card slot.

In the rear will be a Xenon flash and a Lytro-like camera that allows post-capture retouching from within the phone itself.

Apparently, it’ll be released in March 2014 and will have a similar design to the metal-bodied Nokia Lumia 925.

The information from @NextLeaks also suggests the Lumia 1525 phablet will have exactly the same hardware, including that super-speedy Snapdragon 805 processor.

However, it’ll come with a 6-inch 2K display that will feature solar panels within it to charge the 3,400mAh battery.

It will also feature a 25- or 30-megapixel rear camera, rather than the Lytro-style option of the 1820.

There’s no indication that the specs above are correct, but they do sound like the spec sheet dream.

MWC 2014 will run from February 24 – 27 and TrustedReviews will be there to bring you the official 1820 and 1525 details if they happen.

Read more: Nokia Lumia 1020 vs Lumia 925 vs Lumia 920

Via: The Unwired

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Best new games of 2014: What to look forward to

Looking for the best new games launching in 2014? Here's our round-up of must-have PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U, 3DS and PS Vita games due for release this year.

With the Xbox One and PS4 having arrived late last year, many of the most hotly anticipated games for both next gen consoles are set to land in 2014, providing more compelling reasons to make the upgrade.

It's not all about next gen, either, as there are plenty of big games still slated to release on the Xbox 360 and PS3, and more indie games are making their way to PSN and Xbox Live. Sony and Nintendo continues to show great support for the 3DS and PS Vita with Yoshi's New Island and new Oddworld games for the Sony handheld among the titles to look out for.

PC gamers will not be forgotten about as Valve's army of Steam Machines battle for living room space and we cross our fingers that a consumer-ready Oculus Rift VR headset will be available before the end of the year.

If you are wondering which standout titles will eat up most of your spare free time, we've hand picked the 10 games we are most excited about playing in 2014.

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Hitman for Xbox One and PS4, first details revealed

Hitman coming to Xbox One and PS4

IO Interactive has confirmed it is developing a Hitman title for the Xbox One and PS4 and has revealed the first details.

In an open letter on the Hitman website, IO Interactive has announced the first details on the next-gen Hitman title, revealing it has “huge, checkpoint-free, sandbox levels.”

“At IO IInteractive right now, we are building the next AAA Hitman game for PX and next-gen consoles. It has our total focus and we wanted to take a moment to tell you a few things about it”, explained the developer.

Agent 47 will arrive on both next-gen consoles and PC as a “globetrotting” spy that is still in contact with his old buddies.

“In the next game you will experience a globetrotting Agent 47 at the prime of his career – the apex predator stalking his prey across the world, with the support of his long-term handler Diana Burnwood and the whole of the ICA.”

Contracts Mode will return in the new game to enable players to create and share their own custom challenges online. Agent 47’s “magic pockets” have been removed, so you could see the trademark briefcase making a comeback.

“The game concentrates on the core Hitman fantasy of using a wide range of tools to take out a diverse group of targets across expansive, exotic locations around the world. We are building this game on the backbone of the Glacier 2 engine, using the best parts and what we have learnt through Hitman: Absolution and drawing inspiration from past titles like Contracts and Blood Money to fulfil the core Hitman fantasy.”

IO Interactive is taking advantage of the Xbox One and PS4’s updated power to make it the best looking Hitman title yet.

“That means we’re packing in an extreme level of detail on the largest levels we have ever built for a Hitman game. We’ve adopted an open non-linear level design approach to the game, ensuring the game will play out across huge, checkpoint-free, sandbox levels.”

The developer said it will reveal more as 2014 progresses, and will “share much, much more” in the next few months about the next-gen Hitman.

Read more: Best new games of 2014 – what to look forward to

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Alcatel promises new Firefox OS phones for MWC 2014

Following last year’s introduction of the Android rival, smartphone manufacturer Alcatel has confirmed it will launch a range of new Firefox OS devices at MWC 2014.

The phones, which will be unveiled at the Barcelona-based show between February 24 and 27, will follow early Firefox OS efforts from the manufacturer, as well as the ZTE Open, one of the few devices to run the alternative software.

Suggesting that it has reached its phase one Firefox OS targets, Alcatel has revealed that it is now working closely with software giant Mozilla to out new Firefox phones next month.

“There will be a few new devices coming from us that you will see announced in Barcelona together with Mozilla,” Dan Dery, Alcatel’s Vice President of Marketing said speaking exclusively with TrustedReviews.” We want to make this a joint announcement.”

Teasing further details of the new Firefox phones he added: “At MWC you will see more products and more importantly, more differentiation of products.”

Although the Firefox OS has, to date, made few waves on the smartphone scene, Alcatel has claimed that it has successfully achieved all early goals for the new platform.

“We have already started shipping smartphone products with Morzilla, running Firefox. Things went so far as planned – and the plan was to ship the new OS and that’s not a simple thing at all,” Dery told us.

“Check, it’s done, we did that. We were planning to work with some customers and carriers and we did that so now all the targets have been reached.”

Looking to the MWC announcements he added: “All the targets have been reached and more we are talking with Mozilla about taking things to the next step. We are really getting into a fast, clear partnership where we are targeting not only getting an alternative OS to Android, but really something new.

“A new concept, a new value proposition, new form factors and new usage based on this Firefox OS.”



Read More: Alcatel One Touch Idol Review

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Google Now cards coming to desktops, spotted in Chrome Canary build

Google Now card notifications arrive in the latest Chrome Canary build

Google Now cards will be coming to your desktop in the future and it’s already in the Chrome Canary build.

Chrome Canary is the experimental version of Google’s desktop browser that is “designed for developers and early adopters”, and is a sign of what’s to come in Google Chrome.

The Google Now feature has been available within the Chrome Canary build since April last year, the Now card notifications can now be received for the first time.

Those using the Chrome Canary build can activate Google Now by enabling the correct flag – chrome://flags/#enable-google-now) and then you’ll need to restart the browser.

The notification card then appears to indicate Google Now has been fully integrated in the Mac menu bar or Windows system tray notification centres.

“If you use Google Now on your mobile device, you can see certain Now cards on your desktop computer if you’re signed into Chrome, including weather, sports scores, commute traffic and event reminder cards”, reads a Chrome support page.

This means many Google Now card types are still missing from the desktop version, including nearby photo spots, activity summaries and stocks. We expect Google will make these available in future Chrome Canary build versions.

“Google Now on Chrome shows a subset of the Now cards you see on your mobile device, which uses your device’s location. You can edit your location settings (Location Reporting and Location History) on your Android or iOS device at any time.”

The arrival of Google Now on desktop PC and Mac devices is a huge milestone in the service’s evolution, but we doubt it will launch to the public anytime soon.

Google has yet to officially communicate the addition of Google Now to the desktop Chrome broser to its users for a start.

Hopefully we won’t have too long to wait for this welcome desktop browser addition.

Read more: Best laptops 2014

Via: The Next Web

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