LG G Flex's curved display may develop bumps. The company says these don't affect performance

LG G Flex is a unique piece of technology. Thanks to the curved, flexible 6-inch display used by LG, the new smartphone can be bent, only to regain its initial shape quickly after that. But is it exactly the same shape? According to Korea Times, small bumps can appear on the G Flex’s display, and LG was aware of this problem before launching the handset.

The photo on the left, showing two small bumps on the screen of a G Flex, was taken by Korea Times in a retail shop in Seoul. The publication quoted a local salesclerk who claimed that “all LG G Flex models” that he’d seen so far “came with small bumps.”

Furthermore, according to an official at the Korea Display Industry Association, LG “was rather hesitant in releasing its curved-screen smartphone, as it was previously aware of some technical problems. LG should have notified consumers ahead of the product launch.”

Fortunately, LG did provide a statement on the matter to Korea Times. Here it is:

“Because key components inside the G Flex such as the glass cover, OLED display, battery and frame are elastic, excessive or frequent force that flattens the device may produce bumps. The issue has no relation to the performance and quality of the device.”
Reportedly, LG also said that the bumps would disappear over time, but users who don’t want to wait can get rid of them “after pressing the problematic spot on the glass cover.”

When we reviewed the LG G Flex we didn’t spot any bumps on its display. Perhaps we didn’t bend it enough? In any case, the bumps don’t seem to be a problem that should worry users. Nevertheless, it’s good to hear LG clarifying things.

It’s said that more than 13,000 G Flex smartphones were sold in Korea until now (since November). The rather low number confirms the handset's niche status. Later this quarter, LG will release the G Flex in the US via AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile, obviously hoping to... see a sales bump (hey, it's a nice word after all).

source: Korea Times

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New Canon PowerShot G1 X high-end compact tipped to include 20.2MP sensor

Cameras, Canon, Powershot, Canon PowerShot G1 X

Canon will be offering a new version of its PowerShot G1 X high-end compact, if a leak from Chinese forum Xitek is to be believed.
The two year old camera will get a Mark II version, making a high-end camera option for users who want a small form-factor. The new version is said to be similar in design to the original G1 X, but offer a slightly longer lens. Users will see a 20.2-megapixel 1.5-inch CMOS sensor, coupled with a 24-120mm f/2.8-5.8 lens, and DIGIC 6 image processor to ensure photos come out crystal clear.
The Mark II version is said to keep its same 3-inch LCD touch screen with 922,000 dots. Essentially what customers will be getting here is better photos, and who doesn't like that.
Of course, nothing's been confirmed by Canon. If all goes as planned, the company is expected to make a reveal at the CP+ show in Japan next month. No pricing has been named, but the last Powershot G1 X version went for £700, and we suspect Canon won't go too far off for its second version.
Via: PhotoRumorsSource: Xitek

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What is Amazon’s ‘bigger than Kindle’ mystery product? Here's a look at the candidates‏

Gaming, Phones, Gadgets, Amazon, Set-top boxes, Tablets, Kindle

Amazon's got a new device up its sleeve.

A job recruitment invite has indicated the Seattle-based company is developing a "revolutionary" product that'll be "bigger than Kindle." It'll also "deliver digital media" and "disrupt the current marketplace." That's a lot of hopes piled on top of one device. So, what is it?

Well, what that product will do or what category it will fit into hasn't been revealed. Speculation is therefore at an all-time-high. To help get to the bottom of this mystery, Pocket-lint has compiled a rumour round-up of potential candidates.

Everything you want or need to know about Amazon's latest crop of hardware rumours is spelled out below. We've even considered some of the far-out products currently on Amazon's road map. Although we can't say for sure what Amazon is working on, this should definitely get your interest piqued (if it isn't already).

Rumours about an Amazon-branded handset have continually popped up in recent years. It's well-known that Amazon and HTC, for instance, are working on a line of Android handsets that'll supposedly launch in 2014. However, other rumours have claimed that Amazon and Foxconn Technology Group also worked on a smartphone in 2012. The Kindle-branded device was supposedly meant to serve up Amazon Prime content.

The hearsay doesn't end with Foxconn, though. Word slipped out via DigiTimes in October 2013 that Amazon was partnering with compact camera manufacturers Primax, Liteon, and Sunny Optical for advanced sensors that would allow 3D gesture and eye-tracking control in its first smartphone due in the second quarter of 2014.

The smartphone will supposedly boast six compact camera modules. Four of which are VGA cameras that'll sit along the device's four corners, enabling highly accurate 3D-gesture and eye-tracking control. There will also be a 13- megapixel rear-facing camera and a huge 12-megapixel front-facing camera.

Other rumoured specs include a 3D display, quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, and 4.7-inch display. While all that sounds fine and dandy, it's important to remember that Amazon emphasised its bigger-than-Kindle device will allow it to deliver digital media to customers "in new ways and disrupt the current marketplace."

Amazon's recruitment invite seemed to tease a new, revolutionary, and innovative device rather than a smartphone. A Kindle smartphone, even if it's decked out with 3D capabilities, wouldn't likely deliver digital media in new ways. And it certainly would have to be revolutionary in order to de-throne Samsung from the No. 1 spot in the Android handset marketplace.

Reports first claimed in April 2013 that Amazon was developing a set-top box that could stream video over the Internet.

The device, reportedly born under Amazon's Lab126 division, was meant to rival Apple TV, Roku, and Google TV, and Bloomberg said it would launch in autumn 2013. Well, that timeframe has now passed. Still, rumours persist.

The Wall Street Journal claimed Amazon's set-top box would be available for purchase during the run-up to Christmas 2013 so that children and adults alike could wake up and see a shiny, new video-streaming device under their trees. That didn't happen.

Beyond release-date nonsense, The Wall Street Journal revealed the device's platform will give the other set-top boxes a run for their money. Previously assumed to be a vehicle for the Amazon Prime video service, Amazon's set-top box will reportedly have third-party apps and content from a variety of sources.

Amazon has allegedly met with developers about designing streaming media apps and games for the device, which currently goes by the codename Cinnamon. Those developers apparently had a mid-October deadline. That is, until AllThingsD claimed Amazon won't launch its foray into the living room until 2014.

Amazon is now aiming for spring 2014. Other details, like price, haven't been reported. However, if Amazon's recruitment invite is indeed about a set-top box, we will know all the details within the coming months. After all, an Amazon set-top box would deliver digital media, and, if developed well enough, could disrupt the marketplace.

There hasn't been much talk about this as of late, but reports claimed in August 2013 that Amazon was working an Android-based console that would release by Black Friday (29 November). Like the Amazon set-top box, that didn't happen.

The Amazon console was supposed to include a controller and work with Amazon's digital library of Android apps. Amazon even showed off this bundle to anonymous developer, though equally-anonymous sources told various publications like GameBeat that they weren't sure if Amazon considered the game console a serious product.

There's not much else to go on here. It's clear however that such a console would directly rival other Android-based consoles like Kickstarter darling Ouya, Mad Catz M.O.J.O., and BluStacks GamePop. With such heavy competition, Amazon would really need to bring it in order to disrupt the marketplace. It might even sport a forked version of Android, much like its Kindle line of eReaders.

We don't really think a drone is Amazon's mystery, bigger-than-Kindle device, but it's worth considering in a rumour round-up. Especially because Amazon itself revealed in December 2013 that it is testing Prime Air drones that can deliver packages to customers within 30 minutes after orders are placed.

Jeff Bezos, CEO and founder of Amazon, revealed on CBS's 60 Minutes that Amazon has developed prototypes of autonomous drones that can deliver a 5lb package up to 10 miles away from an Amazon warehouse. Amazon has 96 warehouses scattered across the US.

Bezos said the drones could take to the air within the next few years, though the US Federal Aviation Administration hasn't approved their official use yet. In fact, the FAA can't even change its regulations to accommodate the drones until 2015 at the earliest, according to Bezos. So, for now, Amazon is still testing the reliability and safety of its drones.

Amazon's mystery device is in the development stage and will be able to deliver digital media. Although Amazon's drones are in testing and can make deliveries, it seems unlikely that Amazon is talking about them. Autonomous drones can certainly deliver media, but we're safely assuming they'll carry physical orders rather than digital.

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The Atlas Fitness Trackers Can Differentiate Between Bicep Curls and Push-Ups

The market for fitness trackers seems to be filled with lots of pedometers disguised as fitness trackers. Sure they can count steps, calories burned and miles ran, but can they tell you if you’re doing a work out correctly? The Atlas Fitness Tracker can! The Indiegogo project aims to be the “ultimate fitness tracker” since it actually tracks and identifies your different actives, can evaluate your form, counts your reps and sets, calculates calories burned and more. The wrist device is so precise that it can tell the difference between push-ups and triangle push-ups, bicep curls and alternating bicep curls and more. It can log your workout with practically zero human interaction and will keep track of your heart rate so you can easily see how each exercise affects your body to maximize results.

You won’t need to take your smartphone to the gym anymore since the Atlas is all you’ll need since it’ll give you real-time feedback so you can instantly see your progress and keep track of all your stats, as well as helps you anticipate plateaus and find out what makes you faster or stronger. All this is possible via its inertial sensors that see your movement in 3D trajectory and identifies the specific motion fingerprint of each exercise your’e doing. All calibrated data on popular exercises and their proper form comes from professional trainers and exercise gurus and comes preloaded with all that data so you can easily compare your workout and analyze your particular form. You can even challenge friends within the Atlas community and compare yourself to other fit people across the globe. Atlas is compatible with your favorite fitness apps, including MapMyFitness and Fitocracy. When you leave the gym, all of your hard-earned workout data gets synced with your favorite app. Be one of the first to have one for only $159 plus it comes with six months of MapMyFitness and Fitocracy free of charge. If your’e looking to get fit this year, the Atlas is the only workout companion you’ll need.

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Android and iOS users can cut their data consumption in half with Google Chrome

Google announced on Wednesday that an upcoming update to Chrome for iOS and Chrome for Android will feature a way for you to save on your data usage by as much as 50%. According to a survey from Pew, 20% of U.S. adults do the majority of their surfing on a mobile browser. The only problem with depending on your mobile browser is the consumption of data when you're not connected to a Wi-Fi network. If you're depending on a 3G/4G connection to your mobile operator to hook up to the internet, you could find your monthly data allowance spent before you know it.

But as we said, Google has a way to save your precious data. Once you receive the update, you can use Chrome's data compression and bandwidth management on your iOS or Android device, and cut your data usage in half. At the same time that you're saving precious data, you are also protecting yourself against malicious websites by using Chrome's Safe Browsing.

Once you're sure that your version of the Chrome Browser has been updated, follow these directions. Start at Settings > Bandwidth Management > Reduce Data Usage. Turn the toggle switch to on and you're saving data! And this menu will also show you how much bandwidth you are saving each month by using Chrome.

Google has also announced that it will be adding Google Translate to Google Chrome for iOS in the next few days. That will make translating foreign websites on your Apple iPhone and Apple iPad a snap. And finally, the upcoming update for the Android version of Chrome will allow you to create shortcuts to your favorite websites right from your homescreen. When you are visiting a site you want a shortcut for, go to the toolbar and select "Add to homescreen".

Reduce your data usage by up to 50% with the Chrome BrowserFullscreen

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Vuzix “designer sunglasses” styled Glass-rival due after 2015

Vuzix will take on Google Glass with a wearable headset resembling "designer sunglasses" rather than the somewhat clunky Borg-style tech companies are offering today, thanks to a newly announced deal with a mysterious "Tier 1" brand. The project, which Vuzix says will distill its waveguide-based eyepiece technology - expected to launch this year in industrial form - into a more consumer-friendly form, is expected to reach final design stage sometime in 2015, with a commercial launch beyond that.

The identity of the "Tier 1" consumer electronics brand hasn't been revealed, with Vuzix saying that its partner has requested all details be held back until closer to launch. Still, the goal is clear: take wearables to the mass market by making them more aesthetically palatable.

"Being able to develop Smart Glasses that look like designer eyewear is critical" Vuzix's president Paul Travers said of the project. The company began shipping the M100 Android-powered wearable last month, but the headset is hardly akin to sunglasses in its design.




Similarly, the first waveguide-based product - which Vuzix built using holographic technology developed by Nokia - isn't going to be mistaken for anything but a Steampunk-style monocle. Intended for industrial use, such as overlaying schematics on top of broken hardware for the benefit of on-site engineers, the M2000AR HMD has a 720p resolution display integrated into the eyepiece, along with a 1080p camera and wireless connectivity.




Vuzix isn't alone in testing out augmented reality in this manner. Lumus showed off its prototype headset, the DK-40, at CES last week, though it will leave commercializing the eyewear to third-party brands. That will come in at a not-inconsiderable $6,000 apiece, however, though Vuzix said at launch that it expected the consumer version - which could be on shelves as soon as mid-2014 - to be far more affordable.

It's unclear if that consumer iteration is the same product as Vuzix is working on with its unnamed partner, though it seems likely that they'll be two different options, connected only by their shared use of the waveguide optics system.

Vuzix isn't alone in testing out augmented reality in this manner. Lumus showed off its prototype headset, the DK-40, at CES last week, though it will leave commercializing the eyewear to third-party brands.

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Unity 4.3 PS Vita build live: time for cross-platform gaming

This week the folks at Unity have let it be known that their Unity 4.3 build is out for thePlayStation Vita, a device that will now be able to work with a number of abilities in cross-platform gaming. There's a new PS Vita devkit being released for developers for this platform, allowing them to quickly integrate the games they've already made - or are making - into the Unity universe, therefor allowing them to be played on the PS Vita easily.
This release allows developers to create games that'll work with the full suite of PlayStation Network feature. This includes trophies, matching functionality, and friends in the mix. Developers will now be able to take part in the PS Vita's motion sensor functions, front and rear cameras, and dual analog sticks. They'll also be able to work with the PS Vita's rear touchpad - unique to this platform.



In this release you'll find games like developer "Zoink!" ushering in games like "Stick It To The Man", a game that'll be released to PlayStation 3 and PS Vita simultaneously. This game has been developed in Unity and will be rolling natively - in more ways than one - on both gaming hardware platforms immediately if not soon.

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Two new colors for the LG G2 officially announced by LG: Red and Gold

On Wednesday, Korean OEM LG officially announced two new limited edition colors for its Android flagship model. The LG G2 will now be available in red and gold. On Tuesday, we showed you a picture of the gold model that was seen in an online store, priced exactly the same as the black and white standard models. That works out to 14,900 TWD ($496) for the 16GB model, and 16,900 TWD ($562 USD) for the 32GB unit.

LG introduced the limited edition colors to celebrate the Chinese New Year holiday, which begins in two weeks. The red and gold colored LG G2 models do sport a different back than the one on the standard models. The red and gold units have a textured back cover, which makes it easier to maintain a grip on the phone and also helps keep fingerprints from accumulating.

In Singapore, the new red and gold models will cost $898 SGD and will be available starting January 18th from local telecom operators Starhub, SingTel and M1. While the Chinese New Year is not recognized as an official holiday in the states, perhaps LG will still make these colors available in the U.S.



The LG G2 has two new limited edition colors, gold and red

Thanks, Anonymous Tipster!

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HP Chromebook 11 LTE slips out with Verizon 4G

HP's Chromebook 11 has quietly landed on Verizon's LTE network, with the 4G-enabled laptop going on sale at a $100 premium over its WiFi-only sibling. The Chromebook 11 LTE, spotted at Best Buy, uses the same Samsung Exynos 5 Dual processor and 11.6-inch display as the model we reviewed back in October, but adds the ability to get online more readily while on the move.

That's courtesy of an onboard modem supplied by Altair Semiconductor, Android Community reports. Unusually, the chip apparently has no 3G support for when outside of 4G networks: Altair supposedly stripped that out so as to reduce costs.
The omission could be an issue if you wander out of 4G coverage, though the upside is the price. The Chromebook 11 LTE comes in at $379 for the 16GB model, a $100 premium above the WiFi-only version, though there's reportedly a $50 rebate on offer if you hook it up to a Verizon shared data plan.
Otherwise, it's the same 2.3 pound, 0.7-inch thick notebook with 2GB of RAM, a 1366 x 768 screen, Bluetooth, two USB 2.0 ports, and a VGA webcam.
Google's Chrome OS is obviously highly web-centric, and though more recent updates have enabled things like local caching for times when the notebooks aren't online, being able to connect without worrying about WiFi hotspots and such could certainly help reduce the headache. HP had previously confirmed it was working on an LTE version of the Chromebook 11, though had only said it was due sometime in 2014.

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xPC wants to be your next tablet, desktop and crowdfunding gamble

We've followed ICE Computer's modular PC design all the way from first conceptto prototype to demo unit, and after several years, it's now almost ready for prime time. The company has recently taken to Indiegogo, where it's set a $300,000 crowdfunding goal that'll finally put xPC into production. The idea is xPC will be several devices in one, housing all its main components within a smartphone-sized case: x86 Intel Atom quad-core CPU (Bay Trail), 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth and webcam. Now, to make use of what's inside, you marry it with peripherals such as the xPad 10.1-inch tablet dock (much like ASUS' Padfone range), or the xAdapter dock, which turns the xPC into a mini desktop. The company talks of other accessories like the xTop (an xAdapter with external storage) and xKeyboard to compliment the xPad, but these aren't mentioned in any of the pledge descriptions, leading us to believe they'll be made later.

ICE Computer's pitching the xPC as a long-term investment. Thanks to "open connector architecture," third parties are encouraged to make other docks and peripherals that'll work with this and future generations of xPC. You see, the plan is to merely refresh the base hardware -- the outfit also expects to achieve a fully functional smartphone/xPC "within the next year." For now, though, an xPC with full-fat Windows 8 installed, xAdapter and July shipping estimate is going for the early bird price of $369. It's not too enticing a figure when you're essentially betting on an underdeveloped ecosystem, but at least you'll have something to show for it, unlike a similar concept that's never risen past big promises and pretty renders.

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This machine can sequence your DNA for just $1,000

Even a decade ago, sequencing a genetic code would set you back around $250,000. The target, of course, has been to crunch that figure down to a morereasonable sum, and now a company believes that it can do it for just $1,000 a go. Illumina Inc. has announced that the $10 million HiSeq X Ten kit will crank out tens of thousands of genomes per year. Even better, is that the $1,000 figure includes the hefty price for the hardware -- which is hoped will kickstart a new era of genetic research. Naturally, the first customers include the Harvard-MIT Broad institute and Regeneron, with the latter planning to use the tech to develop cheap new drugs to heal our ailing bodies.

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Ubuntu Touch phones set for 2015 while TV still in the workS

For users that've tried the Ubuntu Touch experience in smartphones and tablets over the past several weeks or months, you know good and well that it's nearly ready for mainstream users - but not quite. As it were, Canonical community manager Jono Bacon spoke up on the situation this week, suggesting that they'll not be ready to deliver any devices before 2015. As for the Ubuntu Edge we saw last year - that's no longer a device that'll be produced at all.

Speaking with Reddit on the subject, Bacon suggested that any short-term goals with the group will be seeking out smaller manufacturers for the pushing of the Ubuntu on a small scale. It is through these smaller OEMs that Bacon hopes they can send a message to the larger companies that an Ubuntu handset can sell well.

"Longer-term we would love to see the major OEM/Carriers shipping Ubuntu handsets. This is a long road though with many components, and I would be surprised if we see anything like this before 2015. When the major OEMs/Carriers ship, this is when many of the ISVs will be on-board too.

In the shorter-term there are smaller OEMs who serve a smaller region who see great opportunity in Ubuntu, and their costs and risk are smaller for them to trial a device. This is where we will likely see the first handsets shipping." - Canonical community manager Jono Bacon

Bacon also suggests that the Ubuntu Edge - as it existed in the crowd-funding venture in 2013 - will not be put into production. Instead, said Bacon, "I think it would tie Canonical up in knots delivering a very specific device rather than focusing our efforts on making Ubuntu work well for other OEMs who can ship it."



The team found working with the Edge to be "very helpful" in their efforts to work with manufacturers and carriers, not to mention seeing the relatively massive support flaring up in the community and the press over the past year.


"We are a software company, not a hardware company. I think we are better off leaving the hardware companies to do this and we will focus on building a fantastic platform that they can harness." - Canonical community manager Jono Bacon

As a bit of a bonus, Bacon also spoke briefly about the Ubuntu TV platform. When asked what happened to the Ubuntu TV platform chatted about in past years, Bacon suggested that "it is still alive", but that they're prioritizing the phone and tablet worlds - as well as maintaining the desktop environment. "When the phone and tablet work is done we will converge the desktop and then get to TV."

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Sony Alpha A5000 Camera

Sony has already drawn some attention in 2014 by revealing the first 4K Handycam, but it also quietly snuck out a really good still camera as well. Meet the Alpha A5000, a mirrorless camera with a lot to love.
No Mirror, No Problem
Those familiar with Sony’s still cameras won’t be surprised to learn this largely sticks to what Sony’s offered previously in the market. Essentially the Alpha A5000 is halfway between a tiny fixed-lens compact and a full-featured DSLR. It’s got the usual compact form factor, at 4.3 by 2.5 by 1.4 inches, and it comes with the Sony E Mount. So you can still tuck this in a pocket, or throw it in a backpack, but you can also bring along a bunch of lenses.
Big Sensors
Perhaps the most important aspect of any camera is the size of the sensor, and for a small camera, this does pretty well. The APS-C-sized, CMOS sensor has an effective 20.1 megapixels to it, for example, and actually has some fairly robust video features larded on top of it as well: It can shoot 1080p up to 60 frames a second, either in PAL or NTSC, and, of course, you can shoot in either JPG or RAW formats. Also helping matters is that Sony has included a decent kit lens with the package, with a 16-50mm focus range.
Small But Powerful



In short, Sony’s delivered a good “compromise” camera for photographers who want to swap out their point-and-shoot cameras for something a little more powerful, but don’t want to upgrade to a bulky DSLR. That said, though, power in a tiny package does not come cheap; Sony’s asking for $600 for the overall kit, although the body will likely also be available for a lower price if you’ve got some E-mounts already. It’ll hit the streets March 19th.

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Final Fantasy VI coming to Android today

Final Fantasy VI is coming fully remastered to Android today. Square Enix, the company behind the Final Fantasy series, confirmed that the sixth edition will land on the Google Play Store on January 15th via a tweet.

Final Fantasy is a role-playing game with a great storyline and fanatic following. It packs countless hours of gameplay, as well as long and epic battles that have won it its loyal fans. The sixth edition comes remastered from the original one that was released for PlayStation back in the day.

Square Enix is known to release the remastered Final Fantasy games with a double-digit price tag on mobile, and this new one is likely to also have that same high price. In exchange for paying more, you get none of the often annoying in-app purchases, and can enjoy the game without any interruptions.

We’ll update this article with a link to Google Play as soon as the game goes live, so stay tuned.

source: Square Enix

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Motorola makes another attempt to rollout Android 4.4 for the DROID MAXX, ULTRA, and Mini

Motorola's first attempt at pushing out the Android 4.4 KitKat update for its new line of Verizon DROIDs came about one month ago. The rollout began on December 19th; and over the next week, Motorola was hit by a number of reports that the update was actually bricking user devices, but it seems that the issues are fixed, because the rollout is beginning anew.
The update was apparently pulled at the end of December, although there was never official confirmation from Motorola about that. This morning there were
new reports that the Motorola DROID MAXX and the DROID ULTRA are both once again getting the update, which is coming through as build 19.5.3. That is the same exact build number as the first update, but we would assume that Motorola has fixed the issue with this one.
As we detailed when the update first rolled out, the Android 4.4 update will bring improved camera quality, Emoji support, the KitKat immersive mode, improved FitBit compatibility, and a number of updated apps like Verizon Mobile Security, Google Photos, Motorola Assist, and more.
Update* It looks like the Android 4.4 KitKat update is also rolling out to the DROID Mini. Everything seems to be going well this time around, so if you have any of the new Motorola DROIDs, you should be seeing the update soon enough, if you haven't gotten it already. 


source: Droid Life & GSMArena

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Xbox One Titanfall Limited Edition Wireless Controller incoming, designed by Respawn itself

It's not long now until Titanfall arrives for Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC - 14 March, to be exact - and Microsoft and developer Respawn Entertainment have joined forces to mark the occasion with the release of a limited-edition controller for the next-generation console.

The Titanfall Limited Edition Wireless Controller for the Xbox One has been designed by Respawn in collaboration with the Xbox design team. Its patterns are intentionally placed to make it look like it could exist in the game itself.

"Our goal was to create a controller that feels as if it is a piece of military spec hardware transported from the universe of Titanfall and into players' hands," said Joel Emslie, lead artist at Respawn Entertainment.
Xbox 360 and PC gamers will have to wait to find out if there will be a Titanfall special-edition controller for their machines, if ever. We'd bet our houses on some form of special edition bundle though, considering how hotly anticipated the game is.

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Microsoft to pay Samsung and Sony to make WP8 phone

Before Microsoft bought out Nokia's phone division, the software giant was subsidizing the phone maker to the tune of $1 billion a year. That was a big incentive for Nokia to go with Windows Phone over other alternatives.

The company may be offering the same deal to other companies as well – at least according to Eldar Murtazin, whose prediction accuracy has gone down from its heyday
.Microsoft going to pay to each company for creating one wp8 model. No matter how they call this money, its not a real business for MS— Eldar Murtazin (@eldarmurtazin) January 15, 2014

Anyway, apparently Samsung has taken the deal and will be receiving $1.2 billion to make Windows Phone 8 handsets. There seems to have been some negotiations since the number was $1 billion in mid-December.


Windows phone 8 in 2014 - Samsung 1.2 bln USD, Sony 0.5 bln, Huawei 0.6 bln, others - 0.3 bln. Thats "support" from MS to develop one (1!)hs— Eldar Murtazin (@eldarmurtazin) January 15, 2014

Samsung isn't alone in this – we've heard that Microsoft has been courting Sony to make a WP handset too and it the wooing was reportedly in the form of $500 million. Even Huawei is getting a cut, more than Sony actually - $600 million. Other companies, which haven't been named, will reportedly be receiving lower sums, $300 million.

For instance, Sony with 0.5 bln from Microsoft already profitable in 2014, will meat internal goals in terms of money around September :)— Eldar Murtazin (@eldarmurtazin) January 15, 2014

Surprisingly, HTC is getting squat or has managed to keep it a secret. The Taiwanese maker is in the red and can use a cash infusion, but seems to have lost interest in Windows Phone and hasn’t produced a new handset since the 8X and 8S duo. Speaking of which, Samsung isn't exactly piling on new models either.
And that's a problem – now that Microsoft owns the Lumia line, it also owns around 90% of the market. While the company isn't afraid to produce its own hardware (like the Surface tablets), it prefers to license out software for other companies' devices (the highly successful model it uses for Windows).
Will those rumors pan out? Sony could use the cash infusion as some core businesses aren’t doing too hot (cameras, TVs, etc.), Huawei could use the legitimacy (the brand name isn't popular in the west) and Samsung is on the hook for making Windows Phone devices anyway (a legal agreement).
Still, take it with a grain of salt until the companies' press releases officially have a line stating payment from Microsoft.
Oh, and don't forget the sweet irony that Nokia may be making an Android-powered phone. Speaking of Android, Microsoft is making a pretty penny on licensing deals over Android so this might just be reinvesting the money into its own platform.

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Blackphone smartphone wants to put privacy and control in the user’s handS

Shane McGlaun

Many people feel that if a nefarious user wanted to get at the data inside their phone, with enough time and resources they probably could. Privacy is a big concern for many smartphone users around the world as more and more personal data is stored inside. A new joint venture between Silent Circle and Geeksphone has been announced called Blackphone.
Blackphone is a smartphone that runs a security-oriented version of the Android operating system called PrivatOS. The operating system is carrier and vendor independent. The promise of the operating system is to allow individual users and organizations make and receive secure phone calls.
The Blackphone smartphone also supports secure texting, secure file transport and storage, and secure video chat. The phone will be officially unveiled at MWC 2014 kicking off in February.
Blackphone does have a website where people interested in the smartphone can sign up to be kept up to date with the Blackphone and goings on at the company. Hard details on the smartphone are unavailable at this time.

SOURCE: Blackphone

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HP's smartphone revival begins with two enormous Android handsets

Remember when HP wanted to get into the smartphone business, but changedCEOs and scrapped Palm, the company it bought for $1.2 billion? Well, a few years and another CEO later and the company has decided that it wants to get into the... smartphone business. Speaking with re/code, HP's Ron Coughlin has revealed that the company will launch 6-and-7-inch tablets with voice calling, called the Slate 6 and Slate 7 VoiceTab, respectively. If you're already reaching for your wallet, however, you'll be disappointed to hear that the company is launching the hardware in India first, as Meg Whitman and chums feel that the subcontinent has a demand for oversized phones that only HP can satisfy. Spec-wise, both handsets are said to run Jelly Bean on an unspecified quad-core processor, with 16GB storage and a microSD card slot that'll add up to a further 32GB. There's a 1,280 x 720 display on the 6-incher and a 1,280 x 800 on the 7-inch version, but both will come with front-facing stereo speakers, a 2-megapixel webcam and a 5-megapixel primary lens. The company has yet to say how much either device will cost, or if we're likely to see them over in the west, but we'll be keeping our eyes on this in the hope that history doesn't repeat itself.

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Warning to Samsung Galaxy Note 3 owners with greasy mitts, clean your screen or reveal your PIN

If you're a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 owner and, like us, you've got greasy fingers more often than not you must be careful. We just spotted the above when glancing at our Note 3 in the right light.

Unless you wipe down that screen regularly all sorts of stylus written information could be on display to people near you. Perhaps writing secure numbers down using the stylus is a bad move anyway, but we just thought it can't hurt to pass on our finding.

The last time someone got hold of our Note 3 we returned to find it littered with hand-drawn penii (that is indeed the plural). Leaving the phone on the table at a meeting with one of those clearly reflecting into someone's eye-sight could have been embarrassing. Or hilarious.

So be sure to keep your screen clean, or your fingers cleaner, you never know who's looking at your usage footprint - or is it fingerprint?

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Apple's iPhone 6 could arrive with a 5.5-inch display and iWatch may have 1.3-inch AMOLED screen

The next generation of Apple iPhone could come in even larger sizes with a 5.5-inch iPhone 6.

Reseach company DisplaySearch has made its forcast for Apple in 2014. It believes we can expect two iPhones, one at 4.7-inches with a 900 x 1600 resolution screen (386ppi) and the other at 5.5-inches with a 1080 x 1920 resolution (401ppi). Both will use the same low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) LCD screens as the iPhone 5S.

DisplaySearch also estimates that the much talked about Apple iWatch should come equipped with a 1.3-inch or 1.6-inch flexible AMOLED screen. The smaller size will have 348ppi while the larger will be a reduced 278ppi.

The rumoured Apple iPad Pro tablet, at 12.9-inches, would have a 2732 x 2048 resolution screen for 265ppi, predicts DisplaySearch.

It's all predictions right now but a growing screen size is a common trend that Apple can't ignore. As for that iWatch, if we don't see it this year Apple may find itself slipping behind.

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Alleged Galaxy S5 SM-G900A version for AT&T pops up in a user agent profile

Samsung SM-G900A, claimed to be the AT&T version of the proverbial Galaxy S5, has appeared again - in a user agent profile this time. Oddly enough, the specs listed include a 1080p display, rather than the 2K one we are expecting Samsung's flagship handset to be equipped with.

Naturally, the UAProf could be of a prototype device, so the reported specs and resolution might be far from final, so the takeaway here is that there is indeed a Samsung SM-G900A in the testing phases, just as the SM-G900F and SM-G900S versions, which already made their benchmarking rounds.

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Microsoft ‘ditching Windows 8, planning for 9’

Microsoft is rumored to be getting ready to give Windows 8 the boot and release a brand new Windows 9 operating system. The ill-fated software introduced just 15 months ago has suffered from heavy criticism and poor consumer uptake and is reported to be given a complete overhaul for 2015 with Microsoft expected to make the announcement at an event in April. As to what consumers are expected to see with the new operating system is yet unknown but many know the problems faced with Windows 8 and why it's time Microsoft are having a sweeping re-think. When Microsoft gave its radical Windows 8 operating system it presented consumers with a bright, colorful tile style interface which could run seamlessly on desktop, mobile and tablet. However, many traditional features of the system millions had been using for years disappeared, confusing some, alienating others and infuriating many when even the iconic "start" button disappeared. An 8.1 update came to rectify many faults and consumer complaints (including bringing back the Start button) with the software but it seems too little too late and Windows is ready to pull the plug on the whole thing. On the mobile scene Windows 8 devices hold a minority market share compared to Android and Apple's iOS devices and despite a good go at releasing numerous handsets and tablets last year the lack of consumer interest and failure to really make an impact in the mobile market has been cause for review for the Microsoft board. Windows 8 has even been unable to make waves in the workplace with many millions of corporations around the globe still using, and preferring to use, Windows 7 running machines. It is a case of identity crisis for the much understood Windows 8, which never managed to bridge the gap between PC and mobile experience. We await more news in the run-up to Microsoft's Build conference in April and perhaps we'll even see a new CEO there, too. This article originally appeared on News.com.au .

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