Nokia Wins Ban on HTC One Mini in U.K.

A U.K. judge this week granted Nokia's request for an injunction against the HTC One Mini in the region, but declined to immediately extend the same ban to the flagship HTC One.
At issue is a hardware patent for a "modular structure for a transmitter and a mobile station," technology found within the HTC One and HTC One Mini smartphones. HTC failed to secure a license for the technology from Nokia, prompting the lawsuit, which kicked off in May 2012, and has since expanded to dozens of courts, including the U.K.'s High Court.
Judge Richard Arnold ruled in favor of Nokia on Oct. 30 and this week, he agreed to Nokia's request for an injunction on HTC devices. The ban on the HTC One Mini will go into effect this week, but an HTC One ban in the U.K. will be delayed pending HTC's appeal because pulling the HTC One from the market would significantly impact HTC's business.

HTC One Mini (AT&T)

 

 

 

 

 

"HTC's evidence is that the consequences of an immediate injunction will be catastrophic for its U.K. business because the One is its flagship model," the judge concluded. "HTC paints a dramatic picture of what will happen."
Judge Arnold said he was "skeptical" about HTC's evidence since the phone maker "will shortly be launching its new flagship phone." Still, he acknowledged that there was a "period between now and February or March 2014 when HTC is vulnerable," and could suffer considerably.
Since the HTC One Mini was released more recently, however, the judge did not believe HTC would suffer as much by having it pulled from the U.K. market.
HTC's appeal will likely be held in July or October 2014, the judge said, so the HTC One will remain on the market at least until then.
"HTC is pleased by the decision of the High Court of England and Wales to stay an injunction against certain chipsets, including those in our flagship HTC One, pending the outcome of our appeal," an HTC spokesman said. "Whilst the Court also granted an injunction that affects other third party chipsets, we have filed urgent application to appeal. In the meantime, we are working with our chip suppliers to explore alternative solutions. As always, HTC's primary focus is on supporting our customers and ensuring minimal disruption to them and our business. Rest assured that our award winning HTC One handset will be available as usual."
No other details about that new flagship phone were mentioned, meanwhile, but HTC unveiled the HTC One in Feb. 2013, so an upgraded device in early 2014 wouldn't be too surprising.
For more, see PCMag's reviews of the HTC One and HTC One Mini.   

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Samsung Galaxy S5 benchmark reveals 2K screen

While the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is busy tending to its flagship duties for Samsung, the heir to the Galaxy S4 is making headlines steadily building up the hype.
The latest rumors concern its body and some of its specs. According to EMSOne, a Japanese-based website, ODM Catcher Technology (Taiwan), BYD (China) and Ju Teng (Taiwan) has been assigned to make between 10 and 30 million unibody metal shells for the next high-grade Galaxy device. That could very well turn out to be the Galaxy S5.


This fits nicely with the leaked metal frame we've seen before which was also said to be for the Galaxy S5.
Some rumors are hinting at a two-pronned approach by Samsung - producing a metal-clad flagship of a new F series along with an all-plastic S-series member.
And in other news a device, by the name of Samsung SM-G900S, has popped up on GFX Bench running on a highly-clocked Snapdragon 800 chipset and the Adreno 330 GPU. The clock is at most 2.46GHz. Sadly this isn't the Snapdragon 805 with Adreno 420 GPU nor is it the 64-bit Exynos chip we're hoping to see sooner rather than later.
There's more, though - the SM-G900S sports a screen resolution of 2560 x 1440 or 2K. And if the rumors of either a 5" or 5.2" screen turn out true we may be looking at an insane density of over 560 pixels per inch. As far as results go, the device in question rounded up 27.7 fps on the T-Rex 1080p Offscreen test - on which we've found the Galaxy Note 3 to be the best with 26 frames per second.
Other rumors suggest the Galaxy S5 will be launched (or at least shown) as early as Q1 of next year, have a 16 MP snapper with the ISOCELL tech, perhaps without optical image stabilization and possibly with some elements resistance in tow. That is hard to take in all at once, we know.
But let's not get too ahead of ourselves as we highly doubt the Galaxy S5 to premiere with a mid-2013-grade chip inside (no offense, Snapdragon 800). We'll have to wait a little longer.
Source 1 | Source 2 | Via 1 | Via 2

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Samsung to create 20 MP camera sensor for future flagships

16 MP camera modules with low-light friendly ISOCELL technology aren't the only thing brewing at Samsung for next year's flagships, it seems. Korean media is reporting on an even more resolute, 20 MP sensor being in the pipeline.

The source claims that December 1st marked the date when Samsung's R&D department commenced a project to develop such sensor from scratch, including the autofocus actuators and the elaborate lens set. There's no word as to whether this 20 MP unit will also utilize the space-saving ISOCELL tech, or have optical image stabilization.

For Samsung to adopt OIS in flagships like the S5 would mean at least 50 million suspensions mechanisms for the camera have to be procured, and there is not nearly enough yield for that yet. Perhaps that is why the sources mention that the new 20 MP sensor won't be ready until the second half of 2014, and maybe even reach Samsung flagships in 2015.

As for next year, the 16 MP ISOCELL sensor is expected to land on 25% of Samsung handsets sold, which would peg its production to about 90 million units, which probably will include both the Galaxy S5 and the Note 4. There is a big batch of 13 MP and 16 MP Sony sensors procured by Samsung for next year, say the sources, so we can expect the megapixel race to be kept alive by the Koreans, in order to offset somewhat the ever more resolute and elaborate phone cameras with OIS that the competition is and will be bringing. With the Galaxy S4 and Note 3 Samsung proved it can create a phone that takes very good low-light pictures even without OIS tech, so we keep out hopes high for the 16 MP editions next year, too.

source: ETNews via UnwiredView

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Oppo's swiveling N1 smartphone to be available worldwide on December 10th for $599

Oppo promised that its swivel camera-toting N1 smartphone would arrive in December, and it's making good on that promise today by offering international launch details. An unlocked HSPA+ version of the 5.9-inch Android flagship should be available through Oppo Style and other outlets on December 10th, when it will cost $599 in the US and €449 in Europe. The company hasn't said whether this is the 16GB or 32GB model. There's also no mention of whether or not N1s with CyanogenMod pre-installed will arrive on the same day, although those who get the ColorOS-based phone should have a relatively easy time loading Cyanogen's firmware. You won't have to wait until the 10th to find out if the device is worthwhile -- our colleagues at Engadget Chinese have just reviewed the N1, and they believe that it competes well against many of its global rivals.


Source: Oppo (Google+)
Engadget Chinese (translated)

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SIM-free BlackBerry Z10 now available for $199

Black Friday is now behind us, but the Cyber Monday deals are already starting to come in. BlackBerry is among the first to give you a cool smartphone promotion, letting you have its former Z10 flagship for just $199.
That’s the price for SIM-free BlackBerry Z10 with no commitment to any carrier. Shipping is also free, so the price announced is final (no taxes included, of course). To take advantage of the promotion you need to use the promo code BFEMAILZ10 at checkout.


The BlackBerry Z10 didn’t quite manage to become the best seller its maker so desperately needed and it’s certainly not a device without its flaws, but it’s hard to argue that at $199 contract-free it offers excellent value for your money. If you are willing to stray off the beaten path and try a non-mainstream operating system this seems like a perfectly good chance.
The deal is only valid until Monday, so make up your mind quickly. If you decide to go for it, just follow the source link to place your order. And if you are still sitting on the fence, feel free to check out our review – it should answer all your questions about the smartphone.
Source | Via

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LG G2 to get the Android KitKat update in Q1, 2014

The LG G2 received favorable reviews from critics as well as customers. Now that Google has announced the Android 4.4 KitKat update, naturally everyone who bought one is wondering when will they be receiving the update.
According to Mobile Syrup who contacted the Canadian division of LG, the company will be providing the Android 4.4 build to all the carriers in Q1, 2014, near the end of March. From then onwards it depends upon the carriers how quickly they start rolling out the updates. Those are using unlocked version of the handset can probably expect to receive the update a bit sooner.

The LG G2 is currently one of the best Android smartphones available on the market with top of the line specifications across the board. The software has been criticized for being over the top due to the many features LG tends to add in its phones. Although the KitKat update likely won't be fixing that problem, you would get all of the under the hood improvements that Google has introduced. Too bad there is going to be a long wait for it.
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Image shows Nokia Lumia 929 in white; leak reveals battery size and possible launch period

The Nokia Lumia 929 could turn out to be the most important Windows Phone model once it is launched. Expected to be packed with nearly the same specs you can find on the Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet, the Lumia 929 will feature a more comfortable 5 inch screen. As a result, the model might catch the attention of those who normally wouldn't chase after a phablet due to its size.

Looking at it another way, the Nokia Lumia 929 is the Windows Phone response to the bevy of Android models with 5 inch, 1080 x 1920 resolution screens. And like most of those Android units, the Nokia Lumia 929 is believed to be powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor.

While evleaks previously tweeted a leaked photo of the device, a new photograph allegedly of the Nokia Lumia 929 in white has also been leaked along with some information about the phone. The Verizon exclusive is now rumored to be released in mid to late December and will carry a 2510mAh cell. The white version of the Nokia Lumia 929 is apparently going to be a limited edition, so keep that in mind when deciding which color you go after.

source: WPCentral

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Our Favorite Android, iOS and Windows Phone Apps of the Week

If you celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, no doubt you're feeling a little overstuffed and loaded down today. Give your smartphone the same feeling by downloading some sweet new apps. And since today is Brown Friday, these apps will give you something to do while you're warming up the royal throne.

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Multi-Platform Updates

Showtime Anytime

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Newly revamped for Android and iOS, Showtime Anytime lets subscribers on most of the big cable networks watch unlimited Showtime on-demand programming on any device. Even better, the free app lets you watch live Showtime programming on either East or West Coast schedule. [Android] [iOS]

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Android

Amazon

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Amazon's shopping app now lets you browse any of Amazon's worldwide sites. With a barcode scanner that lets you sneakily compare prices between Amazon and your brick-and-mortar store, easy in-app purchasing, and even a button to call Amazon's customer service hotline, this app brings the Everything Store right to your pocket. [Free]

Duolingo

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Knowledge should be free, right? Duolingo sticks to that ideal with a cost-free and ad-free language learning tool that's just been completely revamped. Teaching you Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian and English in a fun, game-based way, the newest app has smoother graphics and, at 5MB, takes up 1/3rd the space of the old version. [Free]

SidePlayer

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If you're on a device that hasn't gotten Android 4.4 KitKat just yet, you probably can't swipe your audio controls into a fullscreen game or app. SidePlayer gives you an easy-to-access toolbar to adjust volume, pause or change tracks on a variety of music players. Upgrade to the Pro Version for $1.75 t0 unlock custom positioning and animation. [Free]

Doctor Who: Legacy

 

Hot on the heels of the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special, this adventure game lets you pick your favorite Doctor, companions and allies to fight enemies from episodes spanning all 50 years. Tiny Rebel Games promises daily character and episode updates through December, so hop in your TARDIS and start adventuring! [Free]

iOS

TimeShutter

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Time lapses are a ton of fun, but the best ones are the most painstakingly crafted labors of love. TimeShutter makes it easy with tools to help you align, crop and overlay frames with a few finger swipes. You can even export the final product in video or GIF format, so nobody will be without your time-bending genius. [Free]

Reeder 2

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Reeder's handy client for newsfeeds including Feedbin, Feedly and Readability updates with new themes, an expanded list of sharing services and smoother, cleaner navigation. With new ways to sort subscriptions and the ability to work with your Safari Reading List, Reeder makes sure you'll never be without something interesting to read. [$5]

Tweetbot 3

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Beloved among diehard tweeters, Tweetbot updated this week with a new Night Theme that manually or automatically switches for low light reading. Version 3.2 also brings easy, single-swipe account switching for those with multiple Twitter personalities, and the iOS 7 design looks as good as ever. [$3]

Yonder

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Sort of like Yelp for outdoor adventuring, Yonder helps you find great places to hike, kayak, camp, mountain bike and more, with geolocated images and videos chronicling over 20,000 destinations worldwide. The complete iOS 7 redesign gives slick, streamlined design, and the social side lets you follow the activities of fellow outdoor enthusiasts and shares directly to Facebook and Twitter. [Free]

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Windows Phone

6snap

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This sharp looking Snapchat app for WP does all the things you expect from Snapchat, sending self-destructing pics and videos to friends and letting you build a storyline. It also adds a fun live tile to your screen, and takes great advantage of Windows Phone's photo muscle. [Free]

Super 8

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The Start menu is a hallmark Windows feature, and Super 8 brings it to your Windows Phone. When you've got quick one-touch access to your apps, tools and settings, you'll spend less time swiping around your live tiles and more time doing whatever else it is you do with your phone. [Free]

Lockmix

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Lockmix brings livetile-style widget buttons to your lock screen. You can arrange, resize and configure the widgets the same way you do on your start screen, and they'll automatically update with new info. With an ever-expanding list of widgets, you can customize your lock screen to your heart's content. [Free]

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Google Nexus phones are vulnerable to rebooting via SMS attack

A vulnerability has been found that seems to only affect Google Nexus devices, although it isn't exactly all that serious of a vulnerability. The issue was found by Bogdan Alecu, a system administrator at Dutch IT services company Levi9, and presented at the DefCamp security conference in Bucharest, Romania today. The issue can lead to Nexus phones rebooting via an SMS attack.

The issue is caused by Class 0 SMS, or Flash SMS, which is a type of message that is immediately displayed on screen on top of all other apps until the user dismisses or saves it. Alecu showed that on the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, or Nexus 5 running Android 4.x is vulnerable to rebooting or freezing if about 30 of these SMS messages are received and not dismissed quickly enough. Luckily, that's really the worst that can come of the vulnerability and none of your data can be compromised. 

And, there are also a number of apps (including one made by Alecu himself) that can help you limit the number of Flash SMS messages that will be accepted by your device, which can help you to avoid the issue. Alecu tested the attack on about 20 non-Nexus devices and none showed the same vulnerability. Alecu found the issue about one year ago and has tried to contact Google a number of times regarding the flaw, and received a response claiming that the issue would be fixed in Android 4.3, but it wasn't. When PCWorld contacted Google for a comment on the story, a Google representative said, "We thank him for bringing the possible issue to our attention and we are investigating."

source: PCWorld

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Samsung Galaxy S5 will not have OIS camera

Before the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 came out there were rumors that it will have a camera with optical image stabilization (OIS). It didn’t and rumors had it that it was due to the insufficient supply of stabilized modules in time for the launch. Then there were a couple of OIS-enabled cameras linked to Samsung – a 13MP one and a 16MP one – with speculations coming that they'll be used on the Galaxy S5.
Not so fast, says Korean publication ETNews. Apparently, the next Galaxy S flagship will not have OIS due to a number of issues. For one, OIS camera modules are thick and might not fit in the thin Galaxy S5.
Getting enough units is another issue – the Galaxy S phones sell in the tens of millions and Samsung is reportedly worried that camera suppliers won't be able to deliver enough units, at least in time for the S5 launch early next year.
Samsung execs recognize that competitors are using OIS as a marketing point, but the next flagship smartphone will most likely miss out on the feature.
Keep in mind that that these rumors are in no way official and might turn out to be false. The same goes for other Galaxy S5 rumors including the metal frame and 64-bit processor.
Source (in Korean) | Via

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Samsung Galaxy S5 Coming Early 2014 With 64-Bit Exynos, Flexible Display, Aluminum Chassis

Although owners of the new-ish Samsung Galaxy S4 may still be swooning over the popular smartphone, the successor to Samsung’s flagship phone is already in the works. A new report has emerged that pegs the Samsung Galaxy S5’s release for March of 2014, with mass production beginning in January.

It will come in two variants, one with an aluminum and a bendable OLED display, and another sporting the same sort of plastic body we’re used to seeing from Samsung. Other reports indicate that the aluminum S5 will rock a 64-bit Exynos processor while the plastic version will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor inside.

Samsung Galaxy S4, about to be supplanted

The device is also rumored to sport a 2k display, 16MP camera, and Android 4.4 (KitKat), and Samsung may also release an updated version of its Galaxy Gear smartwatch along with it.
Via: Times of India | News Archive | 

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How to remotely install apps on your smartphone

You can download and install apps to your iPhone and Android phone without being anywhere near it. That sorcery is this? It isn't sorcery. It's the internet. And it takes almost no effort to set up.

On Android

If you have an Android phone, you can quickly and easily remotely install apps to your phone without having to tinker with any settings. Visit the Google Play store from your computer and log in using the Google account that's associated with your phone. Next, find the app that you want to install and go to its information page, then press the Install button for that app.

Select the device you want to install the app on, then press Install.

Once you click Install, you'll be presented with a box that tells you which permissions the app needs (whether it needs to access your contacts or connect to the Internet, for instance), as well as a drop-down list of the devices associated with your Google account. Select the phone or tablet you want to install the app on from this list, then press Install. After a few moments, your phone will begin installing the app.
Pretty easy, right? You betcha.

On iOS

Toggle this switch...

iOS 7 comes with a similar feature, but you need to make sure it's switched on first. To check, open the Settings app, scroll down, then tap iTunes & App Store. From here, look for the Automatic Downloads section, then toggle the Apps slider to the on position (the toggle switch will turn green). If you want to have updates downloaded to your phone automatically, switch the Updates toggle to the on position as well.

...then download your app. It will appear on your iPhone's homescreen a few moments after you purchase it on your computer.

Next, open iTunes on your Mac or PC, then go to the iTunes Store, and sign in using the Apple ID associated with your phone. Go to the App Store, then find an app you want to download. Press the Download buttom—it will be labelled with the app's price—and after a few moments it will be downloaded to both your computer and your phone.

On Windows Phone 8

Setting up your Windows phone for remote app installation is similar to the process for iOS. Start by going to the Settings app on your phone and then select Find My Phone from the list. Next, look for the checkbox labelled Send apps to my phone using push notifications (not SMS) and tap it if it isn't checked already.

Now go to the Windows Phone store, then mouse over Explore My Phone in the upper-right corner and sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your phone. Find the app you want to install, and press the Buy or Install button (which button label you see will depend on whether the the app is paid or free).
Once you do that, the Windows Phone store will pick your default device and install that app to it after a few moments.
   

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Apple iPhone 5s makes up a larger percentage of the iPhone's installed base than its predecessor did last year

By tracking how many Apple iPhone users install its SDK, Fiksu can track sales of individual iPhone models and knows which versions are being used. The latest figures show that as of Monday, the Apple iPhone 5s made up 7.53% of all active iPhones in use 66 days after its launch. That compares with the 6.16% of active iPhones that the Apple iPhone 5 controlled during its 66th day on the market.

So what explains the better performance by the iPhone 5s compared to the iPhone 5 last year? One reason is the new model's lack of any manufacturing issues that would make the phone hard to find. In fact lead times on Apple's website are declining and are currently at 3 to 5 business days. It took 60 days for the iPhone 5s to reach this mark. Last year, it took the Apple iPhone 5 70 days to have its lead time drop down to 2 to 4 business days. In 2012, the Apple iPhone 5 struggled through a period when it was extremely hard to find, although some vendors went out of the way to make sure that they were not blamed for the shortages.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster has been tracking availability of the iPhone 5s in stores belonging to the four major U.S. carriers. Two weeks ago, 31% of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile stores had the full-featured Apple iPhone in stock, a number that has since risen to 90%. The analyst estimates that Apple will sell 55.5 million units this quarter.

Apple iPhone 5s has a larger percentage of the phone's installed base than the iPhone 5 had 66 days after launch

1. The Apple iPhone 5s makes up 7.53% of active iPhones

2. Over 90% of carrier's stores have the Apple iPhone 5s in stock

source: Fiksu via Forbes

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Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition scores Android 4.4 KitKat update

If you own a Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition, you can now put down your pitchfork and stop dripping with envy. Apparently, Android KitKat is also gracing not only the Sense-less version of HTC's One today, but also the non-TouchWiz device. When the phone getting Android 4.4 in its purest form, you can look forward to all the features the updated platform promises, including a better camera app and longer battery life. The update should soon be available for download via Settings -- if it's yet to arrive, that is -- those who own a version of the Galaxy S4 with all of Samsung's software tweaks will have to sit tight a while longer


Source: Android (Google+)

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Galaxy S5 rumors, the Snapdragon 805 chip, and will the iPhone 6 have a larger screen? Weekly news round-up

Qualcomm – the company behind the Snapdragon SoCs powering many of today's smartphones – made an exciting announcement last week. The new Snapdragon 805 is now official, packing even more processing power with its four Krait 450 cores and enough graphics performance to drive displays with up to 4K resolution. While we know nothing as to what smartphones might be powered by the new chip, we're guessing that we might one day see a Samsung Galaxy S5 model with one of these under the hood. After all Samsung will need something capable of handling the smartphone's (rumored) 2560 x 1440 pixel display. In Apple news, (or should we say Apple rumors) there's a wild rumor out there, claiming that Apple is testing an iPhone 6 with a 4.9-inch display. It might be untrue, of course, but then again, you never know what Apple has in stock for us. Speaking of Apple, the tech giant might be working on a larger, 12-inch-or-so iPad built with professional applications in mind. However, that's also a rumor that is not well backed by any solid evidence at this time.

Galaxy S5 might sport a 5"+ 2560x1440 AMOLED screen, leaked Samsung Display CEO presentation hints

 We heard through the grapevine during Samsung's Analyst Day not long ago that the company might be releasing a 560ppi mobile display next year, which we immediately thought would be a perfect fit for a flagship phone like the Galaxy S5 or even an eventual Note 4.

There were no reporters allowed during the Analyst Day presentations given by Samsung head honchos, so most of the rumors what's in the pipeline were hearsay from Korean analysts that were present at the events. Now, however, we have the whole presentation of Samsung Display's CEO Kinam Kim leaking out, and on slide number 11 below 2014 is clearly marked as the year Samsung will reach 560ppi phone displays, and of the Super AMOLED variety at that.

Next up in the lofty goals is making such displays with plastic substrate, like on the Galaxy Round, but mass producing such panels is probably some time off still. Nevertheless, a 560ppi AMOLED screen on the Galaxy S5 would be pretty amazing, as it would mean resolutions in the 2600x1440 pixels ballpark at a 5.3" size. That's roughly the so-called WQHD resolution that you see mentioned in one of the slides as ready for next year, whose standard is exactly a 2560x1440 resolution, or 3.7 million pixels at your disposal on a small phone screen, pretty crazy. 

Not that we have any problem with the current Full HD 1080p screens, but if the new panels also sport some fancy new energy-saving tech like during the jump from 720p to 1080p screens, we are all for it. In any case, this is just speculation at this point, though we doubt that if Samsung has heard plans for 2600x1440ppi smartphone screens from competitors, it will leave next year's flagships to chance.

Meanwhile, Samsung has some great plans for bendable, foldable, and even stretchable displays going forward, on anything from wearables, through cars, to fashion even. The whole presentation can be found at the source link, but take a look below at the handpicked slides from it, which refer to mobile displays, and marvel at what's ahead. In any case, it looks like Vivo's Xplay 3S phone might hit the market with a WQHD display first, but it won't be the only one for long.

Leaked Samsung Display CEO presentation hints at 560ppi AMOLED display in 2014

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source: OLED.at

 

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