HTC One X, One X+ Android 4.4 KitKat update not happening after all

HTC One X, One X+ Android 4.4 KitKat update not happening after all

Get used to this Android OS version

HTC has debunked rumors that its HTC One X and HTC One X+ handsets were next in line to get the Android 4.4 KitKat by declaring that the phones will receive no further updates.

"We can confirm that the One X+ will not receive further Android updates & will remain on the current version of Android," tweeted the official HTC UK Twitter account.

The company followed up these 140-character-limited remarks with a full statement to The Verge, saying that HTC One X will be joining its plus-sized, Tegra 3-equipped variant.

"We realize this news will be met with disappointment by some, but our customers should feel confident that we have designed both devices to be optimized with our amazing camera and audio experiences."

Stuck at Android 4.2.2

Because HTC One X and HTC One X+ aren't being updated to Android 4.4, both handsets are stuck with the older Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and the manufacturer's current Sense 5 overlay.

That means in addition to missing out on KitKat, these HTC phones don't have Android 4.3's Bluetooth Low Energy support for constantly syncing wearables like the Fitbit Force.

These hasn't affected all HTC One series phone owners. Android 4.4 KitKat has already rolled out to the company flagship HTC One phone, for example.

HTC thinks its customers should feel confident with the current software they have now, but a few are expressing their dissatisfaction on Twitter, reminding the company that HTC One X+ is only 14 months old.


Source : techradar[dot]com

iOS 7.1 may allow iPhone users to delate space-hogging installation files

iOS 7.1 may allow iPhone users to delate space-hogging installation files

Be gone unrequested installation files (credit: Macerkopf.de)

Back in September, iOS users had a choice; They could upgrade to iOS 7 or lose 3.1GB of space to an installation file which would automatically download to the device when connected to the mains.

Previously, this file stayed on the iPhone or iPad whether users liked it or not, but, help could be at hand in the form of the new iOS 7.1 update, thought to be arriving soon for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners.

The latest (third) Beta version of iOS 7.1 was seeded to developers last week, but German site Macerkopf.de (translated) have spotted that those devs yet to install the update are now able to delete the over-the-air installation file.

That would suggest, when iOS 7 eventually lands with every day users, they'll be able to do the same and reclaim that lost hard drive space.

Will it make the cut?

However, it is also possible that Apple will choose not to carry this feature beyond the Beta stage. It often tests things out on its developer community before deciding not to proceed.

iOS 7.1, when it eventually arrives, is likely to bring some design tweaks to key apps, a redesigned dialler and the long-awaited iOS in the Car platform.

There are few hints regarding when Apple will choose to send out the update, but recent reports have suggested users may have to wait until March.

Have you mastered iOS 7 yet? Are you sure? Check your knowledge against our 21 essential tricks and tips. You never know, you may learn something...


Source : techradar[dot]com

Snapchat is sorry again, this time for an explosion in 'Snap Spam'

Snapchat is sorry again, this time for an explosion in 'Snap Spam'

Sadly, the spam wasn't from this pair.

Another day, and another case of 'SNAFU' at Snapchat. This time the company is eating humble pie for the large number of spam messages received by some users over the weekend.

The messaging service is adamant that the rise in spam has nothing to do with the recent breach that saw 4.6m user account details posted online, but more to do with more traditional spam suffered by all popular social services.

"We've heard some complaints over the weekend about an increase in Snap Spam on our service," the company wrote on its official blog.

"We want to apologize for any unwanted Snaps and let you know our team is working on resolving the issue. As far as we know, this is unrelated to the Find Friends issue we experienced over the holidays."

More negativity

Following the PR disaster it experienced during Christmas, Snapchat would have hoped for a few weeks where it avoided any negative press.

The company has, at least, apologised this time, but still intimated the instance of spam was more down to how popular the service was becoming, rather than through any fault of its own.

Team Snapchat added: "While we expect to minimize spam, it is the consequence of a quickly growing service. To help prevent spam from entering your feed, you can adjust your settings to determine who can send you Snaps. We recommend "Only My Friends" :)"


Source : techradar[dot]com

Latest Nokia Normandy leak gives Android a colourful new look

Latest Nokia Normandy leak gives Android a colourful new look

Nokia's take on Android? Or just a load of fakery? (credit: @picturepan2)

Those Nokia Normandy rumours are gathering some serious momentum right now, but we're still not entirely convinced that the Android Nokia phone is a sure thing.

We were a little suspect of a picture tweeted by someone who claimed we were looking at the Normandy, especially as the phone was hidden behind a protective shell.

However another picture of the handset, this time without the case, has just popped up over on Weibo – and it's a tad more persuasive.

The phone shows a vibrant OS on the screen that looks like it could be Nokia's modified version of Android 4.4 KitKat, which has also been rumoured for the device.

These icons weren't seen in the recent leak of screens by @evleaks, which showed lockscreen notifications, Skype and calling in action.

Normandy landing?

Nokia NormandyWe put it side by side with pure Android and several of the icons along the top do match up, though that still doesn't mean this is the real deal.

The big menu icons on the display do, however, look quite different to the standard Android ones. So Nokia may have done a real job on this.

But with Microsoft purchasing Nokia's handset division, a Normandy handset still feels unlikely, despite it showing up in a benchmark test with a 5-megapixel camera and 854 x 540 display.

But then we've heard that Nokia has been developing the phone despite the sale and plans to push it out in 2014.

These latest pictures could be an indication that the wheels on the Normandy are very much in motion.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Mystery 5.5-inch Samsung smartphone shows up in India

Mystery 5.5-inch Samsung smartphone shows up in India

One for India, or one for the world?

Samsung has been linked to several potential handsets that it may launch at MWC 2014, and now there's more news of a big screened smartphone - although one unlikely to challenge the Galaxy Note 3.

Popping up on Indian site Zauba, the handset goes by the moniker Samsung GT-I9405, and it's apparently touched down in India "for testing and evaluation."

Other than the 5.5-inch screen size, the leak gives very little away about the handset, but considering its ID doesn't fall in line with either of Samsung's flagships products (the Galaxy S4 is the I9500) it's not going to be the Galaxy S5 or a direct relation to the Note 3 (N9000).

Who are you?

We've seen reports suggesting a Galaxy Note 3 Neo, Note 3 Lite, Galaxy Grand Neo and Galaxy Grand 2 - could this latest leak be linked to one of these - or is it something completely different?

Samsung likes to launch a phone for every single segment of the market, so the GT-I9405 could well be a handset engineered to plug a hole in a specific market, rather than try to dominate globally.

TechRadar will be out in full force at MWC 2014, and we'll be reporting live on all the new phones and tablets, including anything from the Samsung booth.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Slew of KitKat-running LG handsets leak ahead of possible MWC 2014 unveiling

Slew of KitKat-running LG handsets leak ahead of possible MWC 2014 unveiling

What does LG have up its sleeve for MWC?

With CES 2014 out of the way, we're starting to get excited about the next big tech event of the year - MWC 2014 in Barcelona - and LG is one of the firms in line to launch new smartphones at the show.

Several LG handsets appear to have popped up on benchmark site HTML5Test, revealing Android 4.4 KitKat inside all of them.

The complete list of phones appearing on the site are; LG-D830, LS740, LG-D410, LG-D320, and LG-MS323.

A good sign

Only a handful of smartphones currently run the latest version of Google's operating, so it's good to see LG ploughing ahead with the new software (although we're expecting MWC 2014 to be pretty heavy on the KitKat phone front).

The LS740 ID has also appeared on the Bluetooth SIG certification site, suggesting the 4G handset is going through the final phases of testing before being launched on the Sprint network in the US.

Other rumours suggest that a LG G2 mini is on the cards, so we wonder if one of the five phones featured here could be the cut-down flagship.

LG is staying tight lipped on the topic, but TechRadar will be at MWC 2014 to bring you all the latest news as it breaks at the end of February.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Android 4.4 KitKat starts rolling for Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Android 4.4 KitKat starts rolling for Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Sweet treat for Note 3

There's good news for anyone rocking a Samsung Galaxy Note 3, as reports say the Android 4.4 KitKat update has started to roll out for the super-sized smartphone.

The news comes via SamMobile, which claims that Android 4.4.2 has shown up on Galaxy Note 3 devices in Poland, with users having to update their handsets via Samsung's Kies desktop software.

Over the air updates are yet to be confirmed, but it's highly likely that Samsung will push the update out over the wireless medium as well.

Fingers crossed

We're hoping that the Android 4.4 build will be more stable than Samsung's Android 4.3 upgrade, with numerous users reporting issues when attempting to sync their handsets to Microsoft's services.

For those of you outside Poland you'll still have to wait for the update - unless you want to dabble with the leaked firmware, but we don't recommend that - but hopefully it won't be too long until KitKat hits Note 3 handsets worldwide.

We have contacted Samsung for more information on its Android KitKat plans, and we'll update this article once we hear back.


Source : techradar[dot]com

iPhone 6 camera won't chase megapixels but focus on image stability instead

iPhone 6 camera won't chase megapixels but focus on image stability instead

Sticking with 8?

The iPhone has never been a serious contender when it comes to the megapixel race, and according to the latest rumours, the iPhone 6 won't be throwing any bigger punches in the numbers game.

Word from the China Post, quoting a tip from the country's Nomura Security, claims that the next iPhone won't jump to a 12- or 16-megapixel sensor as predicted.

The report says that the iPhone 6 will instead adopt the same 8-megapixel camera but will improve optical image stabilisation.

Focus, focus, focus

This is backed up by a newly-published patent application made by Apple for optical image stabilisation and improved autofocus for its iPhone camera.

According to the patent, Apple's plan is to use "voice coil motor actuators" that will move then lens about around the optical axis.

Apple's focus on improving the quality of its pictures rather than just increasing their size has done it a lot of favours so far - so while 8 megapixels might sound disappointing, we still have plenty of faith.

  • We're gradually putting together the pieces of the iPhone 6 puzzle

Source : techradar[dot]com

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