Nokia Lumia 930 rumoured to bring Lumia Icon specs to rest of world

Nokia could be preparing to launch the Nokia Lumia 930 at Mobile World Congress 2014, updating the Lumia 920/925 position with a new flagship handset.

It's the first time we've heard of this device, but following the announcement of the Lumia Icon yesterday, an update in this position sounds plausible.

Nokia and Microsoft pulled the covers off the Nokia Lumia Icon yesterday. The handset is a Verizon exclusive, so won't be appearing on other global networks. However this handset enters the Lumia line-up in a position that isn't currently occupied by another device from a specs point of view.

Verizon's Lumia Icon could be a precursor to this rumoured Lumia 930 handset, matching those specs but set for global release.

The Nokia Lumia 930 is rumoured to have a 4.5-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution display, 2.2GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and a 20-megapixel PureView camera.

Those specs, apart from the screen size, match those of the Nokia Lumia Icon and the Lumia 1520, so they sound pretty likely. It also puts the handset into the same sort of territory as flagship Android handsets specs-wise, updating the Lumia 925.

We're hoping the Nokia Lumia 930 draws inspiration from the slim profile of the 925, rather than the chunkier 920. We're not sure why Nokia would stick at 4.5-inches for the 930, especially given the Icon's 5-inch display, but that may be just to keep the overall size down.

Mobile World Congress starts on 24 February. Nokia has a press event scheduled and we'll bring you all the details as they become known, as rumours of a mid-range 630/630 have also been mentioned.
Via: gsmarena.com
Source: twitter.com

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Windows Phone 8.1 leak shows notification centre for first time

The first screenshots of the notification centre coming to Windows Phone 8.1 have leaked, thanks to a confidential email sent at Microsoft picked up by Winphollowers.

The screenshots show Microsoft will market its notification centre as "Action Center" when it launches with Windows Phone 8.1. Like found on Android and iOS, it appears Action Center's goal is to give users quick access to what they've missed and the ability to enable and disable connections like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, and Driving Mode.



Notifications are split up by application and there's the ability to "Clear All". There's also an "All Settings" function to configure which notifications come through the Action Center and "ghost notifications" so you aren't actively alerted on certain applications you choose. On a more minor level a battery icon and date are found.

The Action Center is believed to launch with Windows Phone 8.1 at Microsoft's Build Conference on 2 April in San Francisco. The update is also said to bring changes to multitasking and a Siri-like "Cortana" personal voice assistant.

We've contacted Microsoft to learn more about the leaked screenshots. WP Central adds some validity to the leak, saying they're accurate and indeed show the behaviour of Action Center.
Via: WP Central
Source: Winphollowers

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Samsung Galaxy S4 and S4 Mini Black Editions announced for the UK

The Samsung Galaxy S4 and S4 Mini Black Edition handsets were announced for release in Russia without a UK release planned. Now Samsung has announced the Black Editions are coming to the UK.

The Black Editions are essentially the same as the current S4 and S4 Mini but with a faux leather backs and black bezels. The Black Editions come pre-loaded with eight wallpapers for home and lock screens along with new exclusive ringtones.


The Galaxy S4 is the GT-I9505 variant with a Qualcomm chip, meaning it has a 1.9GHz Snapdragon 600 processor. The S4 also has a 5-inch Full HD screen, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 13MP front-facing camera, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. It will cost 23,202 Ruble in Russia. UK pricing has not been announced.

As for the S4 Mini, it has the same 1.7GHz Snapdragon 400 processor. Other S4 Mini specs include a 4.3-inch qHD screen, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, 8MP front-facing camera, 1,900mAh battery, and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. This will cost 16,216 Ruble and also has not got a UK price yet.

Both devices should be released by Mobile World Congress on 24 Febraury where Samsung is expected to announce the new Galaxy S5.

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Samsung Galaxy S5 could feature swipe fingerprint reader, built in-house

The Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone should be unveiled at Mobile World Congress during Samsung Unpacked on 24 February. According to industry insiders it will feature a swipe fingerprint sensor that's built in-house at Samsung.

Korean news website ETNews claims industry sources have revealed the fingerprint sensor is coming on the Samsung Galaxy S5. Unlike Apple's Touch ID scanner, this won't be a touch-and-hold affair but rather a swipe recognition system - which sounds similar to the LG G2 unlock button, but with recognition.

The source claims Samsung is able to manufacture this easily at its Vietnamese plant which is currently responsible for camera module production. This, it claims, will allow Samsung to more effectively control its output to avoid any shortages.

The Korean translation isn't clear but it sounds like the module will fit behind glass allowing it to be built into the screen across a range of Samsung devices.

Expect to see Samsung unveil the Galaxy S5 on 24 February in Barcelona where Pocket-lint will be on hand to cover everything live.

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iPhone 6 tipped to have 10-megapixel camera and improved filter

It's been a while since we've had a good iPhone 6 rumour. There have been plenty of hooky ones, but the latest has our mouths watering at the prospect. The iPhone 6 is said to be coming with an improved camera.

Chinese website IT168 reports that sources within the supply chain in Taiwan claim that the "next generation iPhone" will come with a 10-megapixel camera with an aperture of f/1.8. It will also have an improved filter, they say.

Japanese resin manufacturer JSR will make a new filter from transparent resin. The company's Arton resin, which is already used on digital and video cameras with CMOS sensors, is used to make filters lighter and thinner than IR filters.

This has the potential to take clearer images thanks to the resin's ability to minimise colour shifts of CMOS image sensors.

Previous reports had suggested that Apple would stick with the 8-megapixel snapper as used on the iPhone 5S, but with rivals adopting better camera technologies, it would be foolish for the company to stand still with its next flagship phone.
Via: MacRumors
Source: IT168
Image Credit: Martin Hajek & Steve Hemmerstoffer

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Archos considers entering the Windows Phone market

Archos CEO Loic Poirier confirmed in an interview released on Saturday, that the manufacturer is taking a serious look at building a Windows Phone powered handset. Poirier told Trusted Reviews that "We will launch a Windows Phone handset when the time is right." The executive said that for now, Archos will maintain its focus on Android although he did say that the Windows Phone market is now mature enough to enter.

It might have been too premature to ask this question, but the interviewer did question the CEO on how Archos would divide its resources between Google's open source OS and Microsoft's mobile OS. "Before anything else we are focused on Google," stated Poirier.

One report from ABI Research indicated that Windows Phone saw the number of handsets shipped with the platform soar 104% on a year-over-year basis for the fourth quarter of 2013. Other recent reports, including one from Windows Phone mobile ad network AdDuplex, reveal that Nokia is delivering 93% of the handsets running the platform. With Nokia's control over both the low and high end of the Windows Phone market, and with Microsoft's soon to close acquisition of the Nokia Devices and Services division, it might not be that easy for Archos to shoehorn its way into the Windows Phone business. Bigger names like Samsung and HTC have tried and thus far, have failed to make a mark in Windows Phone handsets.

source: TrustedReviews via WMPoweruser

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Apple iOS 8, iWatch said to focus on health and fitness tracking with help of new Healthbook app

Apple's release of iOS 8 later this year will focus on mobile healthcare and fitness tracking,according to 9to5mac. Health is said to be the software's headline feature, along with an iWatch product that will feature health-tracking sensors.

iOS 8 won't be graphically enhanced, reports 9to5mac who has a great track record reporting on Apple, and will instead be a software update about health, performance, and improving Apple Maps. The software reportedly has a codename of "Okemo" after a ski resort located in Vermont, US.

An application called "Healthbook" is said to be released bundled in iOS 8 and will have a use similar to the Nike+ Move app released earlier this year. It will count calories, steps taken, and track weightloss through the iPhone's M7 motion tracking processor (presumably M8 in the next iPhone version). Additionally, with the help of the iWatch's sensors, users will be able to track vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate through the app that's said to carry a similar look to Passbook.

Apple executives Jeff Williams, senior vice president of operations, Bud Tribble, vice president of software technology at Apple, and Michael O’Reilly, part of Apple’s government affairs department, met with members of the United States Food and Drug Administration in December to discuss mobile medical applications. The New York Times reports the meeting was likely about Apple laying the groundwork for an iWatch release later this year.

Neither reports offer details about the iWatch's hardware. Previous rumours have said the Cupertino company has been testing different sizes of OLED displays. It was thought this was to find out the perfect size through testing on prototypes, but a November report from the Korea Herald said both 1.3-inch and 1.7-inch OLED panels were to be utilised to offer different size choices.

9to5mac says past health and fitness, the iWatch will also focus on mapping.

Speaking on a year-end conference call with investors in 2013, Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted at new product categories during 2014. Industry analysts and pundits have long pegged the smartwatch as the device to be released.
Source: 9to5mac
Source: The New York Times
Image Credit: Todd Hamilton

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Samsung's first Tizen smartphone shown off in leaked photo, revealing 4.8-inch HD display

Samsung's first Tizen-based smartphone has been revealed in leaked photo.

Korean website MovePlayer posted a leaked image of the ZEQ9000 Tizen smartphone from Samsung, though the website's unnamed source said it could launch with the name Zeke, because Samsung allegedly filed that brand name in August.

PhoneArena noted that the leak could be a fake, but the smartphone's design is very familiar and could therefore be authentic. The smartphone's display also echoes Tizen 2.1 screenshots that surfaced in December.

The Tizen operating system is set to be an alternative to Android, just like the Firefox OS launched by Mozilla in 2013. A version of the software was shown on the Galaxy S4 in September 2013 featuring a clean user interface with a Windows Phone feel to the tile layout. The strong colour variations and notifications gave it a hint of Android crossed with iOS 7.

Moveplayer also leaked some specs: the Zeke will allegedly launch with a 4.8-inch HD display and 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU. As for the smartphone's size, it'll be marginally smaller than the Galaxy S4.

Both Samsung and Intel have revealed that a new wave of devices running the Tizen operating system would unveil on 23 February 2014 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This news came after Samsung delayed a planned 2013 release for the Tizen smartphone.


Via: PhoneArena
Source: MovePlayer

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LG G Pro 2 phablet officially launching in February, specs still remain a mystery

LG has made the LG G Pro 2 official, announcing on Monday the phablet will launch in February, presumably at Mobile World Congress.

LG didn't share any specific details about the handset, however rumours detail the LG G Pro 2 as being the company's first with fingerprint scanning technology. Additionally, it's expected to feature a 6-inch Full HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, Android 4.4 KitKat, and LTE Advanced.

LG's G Pro successor is set to take on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, HTC One Max, and Sony Xperia Z Ultra, at a time when phablets have become necessary in a company's product line. Research firm IDC noted phablets accounted for 21 per cent of smartphone shipments in Q3 2013, up from 3 per cent in Q3 2012.

Pocket-lint will be live from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain from 24 February to 27 February to bring you the latest.

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HTC One users in the US should see Android 4.4 KitKat update very soon

The long-awaited Android 4.4 KitKat update reached its way to the Google Play and developer editions of the HTC One in November, but users on the four major carriers in the US have been stuck on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Luckily, HTC announced on Thursday the majority of HTC One users in the US are one step closer to seeing Android 4.4 KitKat on their handset.

HTC has rolled out its KitKat update to Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile for final carrier testing, and certification is expected to come next week. This means the update has reached the third out of fourth stage before being pushed out over-the-air to users' handsets.



The update is now in carriers hands to install their own custom software and run tests, and then software is ready. Users are simply at the mercy of carriers, not HTC, to release the update.

We presume the update will be released in the US in the coming weeks, if no issues are found. HTC had previously promised January, but the days left are quickly numbering.

There's no word on KitKat for the HTC One in the UK.
Source: HTC

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Apple promises to fix iOS 7's 'black screen of death' in future software update

Apple promises to fix the "black screen of death" bug that's affected iPhones running iOS 7 since September.

The bug causes the iPhone to "soft reboot" out of nowhere, interrupting tasks for 30 seconds to one minute as you wait for the home screen to return. We've seen it here at Pocket-lint, and while it doesn't occur every day, it does happen more than we'd like.

Apple told Mashable in a statement: "We have a fix in an upcoming software update for a bug that can occasionally cause a home screen crash." It didn't detail when the update will be available, but it's expected to come as part of iOS 7.1, which is currently in testing withdevelopers.

BGR, who has pegged Apple's software releases correctly in the past, reported iOS 7.1 will come to the public in March. Past the "black screen of death" fix, the new software is expected to include iOS in the Car, new accessibility options, and multiple other bug fixes to smoothe over performance.
Source: Mashable

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Nokia Lumia 625 is now getting GDR3 and Lumia Black update

Microsoft and Nokia have already seeded the GDR3+Lumia Black update to Lumia 1020, 925, 920 and 820, while the Lumia 1520 is running it out of the box. As of today Lumia 625 has also joined the Lumia Black bandwagon.

Nokia Lumia 625 phones in various countries around the globe are already getting the notification for both the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update and Nokia's Lumia Black improvements. In case your Lumia 625 isn't among those, you should be getting the update very soon as well.



The WP8 GDR3 update now allows you to close apps from the app switching UI, it also brings auto rotation on/off switch, Driving Mode, Bluetooth tethering, better storage management, custom ringtones for messages, and new accessibility options. Nokia's Lumia Black also update adds Bluetooth 4.0LE support.

Now that both updates have been optimized for Lumia phones with 512MB RAM so they work on the Lumia 625, we expect Lumia 520, 620 and 720 to get their updates shortly.

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The 4.5-inch Huawei G6 is an Ascend P6 on a budget

Huawei's ex-flagship, the Ascend P6, may have its downsides -- it's certainly not as widely available as competing models from Huawei's rivals, and it sure could make use of a more powerful processor -- yet nobody can contest that it is one sexy device.


The previous record holder for the world's slimmest smartphone (just 6.18mm!), the P6 has been one of Huawei's most popular models, and the company appears intent on further cashing in on its success by introducing a budget version of the phone. This is strictly unconfirmed, of course, but China's FCC-equivalent body, Tenaa, has certified a device bearing a model number G6-T00 and an unmistakable similarity with the P6. Chinese blog MyDrivers has further dug out some specific hardware intel from the listing and it reads pleasantly, granted that Huawei manages a very low price point. Included within is a quad-core, 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6582 built on a 28nm process, 1GB of RAM, a 8-megapixel rear shooter and a 5-megapixel front one. There's also apparently a slot for microSD card expansion, and despite its likely budget tag, the Android 4.2.2-touting phone is still super slender, with dimensions measured at 130 x 65 x 7.5mm. Lastly, based on the dimensions of the phone, MyDrivers is guessing a diagonal length of 4.5-inches, though this is obviously up in the air. As to when we might get to see this more frugal version of the P6, we simply don't know.




Huawei G6-T00Fullscreen

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HTC One (M8) concept cuts down on bezel and loses the capacitive buttons

Google+ user Nikolai Prettner has posted an unofficial concept of the next-generation HTC One (M8) handset, and we wouldn't mind if his predictions were to come true.

The next-generation HTC One is expected to keep a close design to the first-generation with a few subtle changes. As shown by Prettner, when you cut down on the HTC One's bezels and get rid of the capacitive touch buttons, the handset becomes even more stylish.

There haven't been many leaks for the new HTC One. The only images so far have shown afingerprint sensor on the rear - not much has been suggested about the front of the device. Of course, Prettner's mock-up is all guessing and hopefulness, but if he was spot-on HTC would have quite the stylish device on its hands.

The handset is expected to carry a larger 5-inch 1080p display, 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a bigger 2,900mAh battery, microSD slot for expandable storage and Android 4.4 KitKat. Other sources have suggested the presence of two sensors for the camera too, with some Lytro light field effects possible.

The next HTC One is expected to launch soon. During a patent trial in late-2013, a Nokia lawyer brought evidence that HTC will launch the "HTC One Two" in the first quarter of 2014. HTC's lawyer didn't dispute Nokia's claim, and it left the judge to take Nokia's statement as valid.

For now, concepts like Prettner's will have to hold us over until we see more leaks or something official from HTC.

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Super-dev Rudy Huyn brings 6tinder to Windows Phone

If you have a Windows Phone, you should know the name Rudy Huyn, because is is one of the best individual developers on the platform. He has made the best unofficial Instagram, Snapchat, and Vine apps for the platform, and he has a lot more apps in his stable. And, our opinion isn't without reason, Huyn has even won three developer MVP awards directly from Microsoft since 2012. The newest addition is an unofficial Tinder app, which is unsurprisingly called 6tinder.

For those of you who don't know, Tinder is a location-based dating app. You set up your profile, and if there is someone who is physically near you, it will notify you and let you anonymously like them. If two people have reciprocal likes, the app will make the introduction, and you take it from there. Huyn released his app yesterday, and already updated it today with Live Tile support, better toast notifications, as well as emoji, autocorrect, and typing suggestions.
And, as you would expect from Rudy, the app is getting amazing reviews. In just about one day in the Windows Phone Store, 6tinder has gathered close to 400 reviews and has a stellar rating of 4.5 (out of 5) stars. If you're on the dating market and you have Windows Phone, this app seems like a no-brainer, especially since it is free. 


Download: 6tinder

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Latest LG phone leak keeps hope alive for keyboard lovers

Smartphones with keyboards are increasingly rare, but LG must see some life left in the category -- @evleaks has just posted a leaked press shot and specs for the Optimus F3Q, a landscape slider reportedly headed to T-Mobile. While the image doesn't do much beyond confirm the five-row keyboard from an abstract imageseen last month, the rumored specs suggest that the F3Q won't be much different than its touch-only counterpart. It will supposedly ship with the F3's 4-inch WVGA display, dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon, 5-megapixel camera and 2,460mAh battery; it may even run Android 4.1. There's no mention of launch details in the leak, but the modest spec sheet hints that LG's QWERTY handset will get an entry-level price.

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Nokia Lumia 1820 with 2K display, Snapdragon 805 incoming alongside solar powered Lumia 1525 phablet?

Nokia already impressed us with the Lumia 1520 and it looks like the Microsoft owned mobile maker isn't going to stop there. The Lumia 1820 sounds astonishing.

Rumour has it that the Nokia Lumia 1820 will come packing the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor backed by a hefty 3GB of RAM. The screen should be dazzling at 5.2-inch with a 2K resolution. It will also cram in a juicy 3400mAh battery and 32GB expandable storage. And, of course, it'll have a Xenon flash and the Lytro-like Refocus smarts we've come to expect from top end Lumias.

Nokia, never one to take it easy these days, should also be revealing a new Lumia 1525 phablet. This 6-inch device has fewer details leaked but we can probably expect similar specs plus a 25/30-megapixel camera. Also, and this sounds a bit of a stretch, it will use solar charging.

In all honesty we enjoyed writing that. It's not often specs are so impressive. But saying that this comes as rumours from @evleaks and @NextLeaks. They're usually good sources but we're still keeping the old salt mill close.

We hope to see Nokia unveil its new handsets at Mobile World Congress in February.
Via: Stuff
Image Credit: Nokia Lumia 1520

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Here are the first live pics of the LG G2 gold edition

LG just outed two new hues for its current flagship, the G2, providing chassis in red or gold, in addition to the black and white colors the handset came with. The golden G2 was already spotted on preorder in Taiwan, and now we have the first live pictures that show how it really looks like, apart from the puffed up renders.

As you can see, it has a textured back, which we couldn't tell from the renders, and the coloring is not all that flashy or tacky, making for a rather interesting handset in this hue. The price is said to be about $500 for the gold variant, and all that is left now is to check out the red LG G2 when it hits the shelves 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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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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