O2 has officially confirmed its 4G LTE network will go live in the UK on August 29, with SIM-Only tariffs starting at just £26 a month.

The company will switch on its next-gen network in London and Leeds and Bradford on the first day, with plans to open up 4G access in ten more areas before 2013 comes to a close.

Those additional cities will be: Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry, Sheffield, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

In its announcement the network did not go into specifics regarding the range of tariffs it will offer at launch, but told TechRadar 'Pay Monthly' contracts will be 'beyond' the cheapest £26 a month SIM-Only deals.

'Oxygen of modern life'

The launch finally brings some competition for 4G trailblazer EE, which has had the UK market to itself since October 2012 and racked up close to 700,000 customers already.

As has been widely documented, EE took its rivals by surprise by winning permission from Ofcom to convert existing 1800Mhz spectrum for 4G use, while the rest were forced to wait for the spectrum auction.

O2 splashed out £550m to secure its own 4G spectrum earlier this year including the largest proportion of the low frequency 800MHz frequency. The network's announcement comes on the day that spectrum was cleared for use by Ofcom.

The CEO of Telefonica UK, which owns O2, Ronan Dunne said: "Digital connectivity will be made ubiquitous by 4G and become the oxygen of modern life. It is our intention to use 4G to inspire the nation through the possibilities of technology, encouraging people to live more, do more and be more with O2.

"The full potential of 4G is as yet unexplored, but what we can be sure of is that it will allow for a whole new world of opportunity that people are now ready for. Over half of our customers say they use more data than two years ago and even more use wifi wherever they go, to always stay connected. Given this trend, there is no doubt that 4G will transform our lives, be it as consumers, in business or through public sector services."

Happiness, guaranteed

The company said that all 4G contracts will come with a 30-day Happiness Guarantee enabling customers to be transferred to a 3G tariff if unsatisfied with 4G speeds.

O2 also revealed it will provide provide options for businesses and, naturally, give all customers access to its 9,000 free O2 Wi-Fi hotspots in the UK.

The company recently teased the 4G launch was 'right around the corner' with a new Rocky-inspired Fit for 4G campaign.

We'll bring you specific details of tariffs as soon as O2 announces them, but at last UK mobile users are about to have a little choice when it comes to 4G and, hopefully, some better deals.

Source : techradar[dot]com

As if BlackBerry hasn't had a difficult enough time re-establishing itself in the Android/iOS dominated market, the latest BlackBerry 10 update has certainly caused a few more brows to furrow.

According to N4BB, the latest operating system update has stymied the messaging attempts of a decent portion of the BB10 userbase.

Users have reported an inability to use messaging, while some others claim the update has erased their message history, leaving them unable to see what people said in the past, or are even texting them today.

While it's not uncommon for OS updates to cause issues for some users regardless of the device, accidentally removing functionality like the ability to send SMS texts is an bad omen for the re-emerging BlackBerry.

Missed messages

Since launching its new line of phones and the BB10 OS, BlackBerry has been struggling to gain the marketshare it lost to the likes of Android, iOS, and even Windows Phone 8.

Even with the Z10 and Q10 battling it out with the likes of the the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5, BlackBerry hasn't been able to gain much ground (if any at all) these past few months.

Now, even if only a minority of BB10 users are feeling the effects of the message-eating update, the company is even failing those who adopted the fledgling phones.

The update hasn't yet hit U.S. consumers (it's due later this summer), but others around the globe in places like Canada, Europe, and some Asian markets are feeling the burn.

BlackBerry is now looking into the issue, but these types of growing pains won't win the company any favors from those thinking about making a switch any time soon.

• Which smartphone is best for you business: Android or BlackBerry?

Source : techradar[dot]com

Motorola's Moto X could be the next device to sport the new nano-SIM cards, judging by a photo that reportedly leaked out of Hong Kong this week.

Engadget today published this photo, which appears to show the Moto X with its nano-SIM tray ejected.

The nano-SIM is 40 percent smaller than the micro-SIM currently used in most devices, so it's easily recognizable, and the phone in the image appears to match up with some previous Moto X leaks.

If so, the Moto X will be the third handset, after the iPhone 5 and Asus Padfone Infinity, to adopt nano-SIM.

Casualties of the SIM war

The Padfone Infinity phablet's use of nano-SIM proves that you don't have to be as small as the iPhone 5 to utilize the new, smaller SIM standard.

But it's unclear why Motorola would choose to switch to nano-SIM, especially given its opposition of the technology.

A coalition formed of Motorola, BlackBerry (still RIM then), and Nokia dueled with Apple over what the next generation of SIM cards would look like, and Apple emerged victorious last year.

Nokia said in a statement at the time that Apple's nano-SIM was "technically inferior" to its own tech and even to the existing micro-SIM, and that "the existing micro-SIM (3FF) will continue to be a preferred option for many manufacturers."

But if today's leak turns out to be the real deal then it would seem Nokia's former SIM war bedfellow, Motorola, disagrees.

Designed by you

The phone formerly known as the Motorola X Phone is rumored to be highly customizable, coming with the possible tag line "designed by you."

Google's Motorola advisor Guy Kawasaki previously suggested that the Moto X will be as customizable as a classic Porsche, whatever that means.

The exact degree of that customization has yet to be seen, but there's a whole rainbow of colors rumored as well.

• We won't have to wait much longer to find out for sure: the Moto X launches Aug. 1, and rumor has it the X shipped to carriers yesterday.

Source : techradar[dot]com

After its launch on iPhone last month, Office Mobile is now rolling over to Android starting today.

Making the announcement on its blog, Microsoft declared that phones supporting Android 4.0 or higher will be able to get the app allowing access to Word, Excel and Powerpoint, although Android tablets won't be getting in on the action for now.

Of course, you'll also have to have bought Office 365 Home Premium and ProPlus service. They ain't giving that stuff away for free, you know?

Keep rolling

The app itself, however, is free of charge. And when you've downloaded it (and subscribed) you'll be able to keep working on documents on your phone when you leave your PC, with all files stored in Microsoft's SkyDrive.

Office Mobile is more for editing than actual document creation though, so don't expect to be getting the full 365 experience.

Office Mobile is available in the Google Play store today for US Android users. Microsoft says it will then be "gradually" expanding the software to 33 other languages.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Samsung could be about to ditch nature and shake up its smartphone design if a new patent is any indication.

With the Samsung Galaxy S4 now a few months old - and a slew of S4 variants out the door - it's little surprise that we're hearing rumblings of what could be next.

The patent images, unearthed by Patent Bolt, show off a rectangular shape but with edges that are slanted. All in all, it looks a little bit more in line with the HTC One, moving away from Samsung's current nature-inspired look.

Brand new galaxy

Samsung applied for the patents in 2012 in the US and 2011 in South Korea, so they're not all that new and there's nothing here to indicate when, or indeed if, such a handset might materialise.

But Samsung was no doubt thinking about its S4 follow-up during that time. Or, this could even be for a possible variant of the S4, though we'd say that's less likely given the design overhaul.

And let's not discount the Samsung Galaxy Note series either, although the design doesn't agree with the Galaxy Note 3 leaks we've been seeing.

We'd previously heard rumours that the Galaxy S5 could be the first Samsung phone with a fully aluminium chassis although these new patents give no indication of the materials that could be used on the new handset.

But throw this new patent into the bag and we might be getting a vague idea of where Samsung is heading.

Source : techradar[dot]com

In response to the accusation that it has been jimmying Galaxy S4 benchmark results just to make its handset look good, Samsung says nuh-uh guv'nor.

The company's statement explains that whatever GPU frequencies "BenchmarkBooster" rigged up on the Exynos 5 variant are "not intended to improve certain benchmark results" and the same maximum settings can just as easily be used to optimise performance on a users' handset based on what they're using it for.

That's as may be, Samsung, but using phrases like "BenchmarkBooster" in your code is still a bit suspicious in our book. It seems pretty clear that, regardless of whether these maxed out settings have real world use, Samsung was also hoping to beef up its benchmark results.

Now for the science

The full statement reads: "Under ordinary conditions, the Galaxy S4 has been designed to allow a maximum GPU frequency of 533MHz.

"However, the maximum GPU frequency is lowered to 480MHz for certain gaming apps that may cause an overload, when they are used for a prolonged period of time in full-screen mode.

"Meanwhile, a maximum GPU frequency of 533MHz is applicable for running apps that are usually used in full-screen mode, such as the S Browser, Gallery, Camera, Video Player and certain benchmarking apps, which also demand substantial performance.

"The maximum GPU frequencies for the Galaxy S4 have been varied to provide optimal user experience for our customers, and were not intended to improve certain benchmark results. We remain committed to providing our customers with the best possible user experience."

So to summarise: Samsung made sure its phone aced the benchmark tests, it got slightly found out, it justified the decision, phones keep going as before. Whoop.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Eastern Scotland, Cumbria, central Wales and Strabane will be the first parts of the UK to benefit from the Government's £150 million spend on improving mobile phone coverage in rural areas.

They are covered by the first phase of the Mobile Infrastructure Project, details of which have been published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on a map outlining the different stages of the investment. The first sites are expected to go live by the end of this year, and the Government is aiming to have them all in place by 2015.

The Government is providing the money for communications infrastructure company Arqiva to install the masts. The company has begun to identify suitable sites and apply for planning permission.

Four mobile network operators – EE, Telefonica, Three and Vodafone – will use the sites and cover the operating costs over the next 20 years.

• Check out our round-up of the best smartphones for business.

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said: "This project will see mobile phone coverage extended to many of the people who currently live and work in areas where there is none. The project will provide a significant boost to local economies across the UK, and will be instrumental in helping Britain win the global race."

The DCMS has acknowledged that the project will not reach every area without mobile coverage. A spokesman told TRPro it will not be able to identify the 'not spots' until the survey work is completed, but that it is likely that a few areas will not get mast coverage in the long term because it would be uneconomical, and would need an alternative such as satellite phones.

Source : techradar[dot]com

With September 4 inching ever closer, more leaks about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 are trickling out and, while we're still missing a proper photo of the thing, today's sees the handsets insides displayed for all to see.

These photos are supposedly of a prototype Note 3 and were posted on Weibo by an "insider" known as C Technology - yes, we'd say keep the sodium chloride handy for this one.

The photos aren't really giving much away. The battery details have been scrubbed out and there's no way of knowing if the recently revealed 3GB RAM unit is present or not.

Elusive

Samsung's J. K. Shin has said that the Note 3 will come with a 5.9-inch screen, which could give some clues as to the size of the device itself.

However, the latest word is that there will be around three different Note 3 models with screen sizes ranging from 5.5-inch to 6-inches. Who knows which, if any, these photos are of.

We're also expecting an octa-core processor and a 13MP camera to feature when the handset lands.

The fuzzy nature of the snaps make it hard to tell if the chassis is plastic or some kind of aluminium unibody type affair - we're leaning towards plastic though, sorry metal fans.

Anyway, not too long until IFA 2013 and the big Note 3 reveal. Feel free to fill your boots poring over these photos til then.

• What else is what with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3? Find out everything we know so far

Source : techradar[dot]com

Reports have emerged seemingly confirming that the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update is making its presence felt in the UK on Google's own-branded Nexus 4 handsets.

Multiple sources on Monday and Tuesday brought word from Nexus 4 owners who've been notified that the newest version of the software has arrived and is ready to be downloaded over the air.

The update began hitting Nexus phones and tablets in the United States soon after the launch event last week but, as usual, it has taken a little while to reach those on the other side of the great paddling pool.

Google, is able to prioritising its Nexus devices for the update, but it may be a while before devices from Sony, Samsung, HTC are updated, giving so Nexus 4 owners at least a few weeks to gloat.

Saving the best for later

In terms of updates, Android 4.3 wasn't the most newsworthy Google has ever introduced for its dominant mobile operating system.

Among its headline features are; the ability to add multiple user accounts, an autocomplete dial pad, improved Bluetooth connectivity and OpenGL 3.0 support to bring better graphics for Android games.

It also brings support for Google's new Chromecast dongle, allowing content to be beamed to a HD TV or monitor over the web.

Google is thought to be saving up its next big set of mobile innovations for Android 5.0 - codenamed Key Lime Pie - which is now unlikely to until late 2013 at the earliest.

Have you received the Android 4.3 update for your Nexus 4 yet? Let us know if you've noticed any improvements in the comments section below.

• Not a Nexus 4 owner? Find out when your handset will be granted the Android 4.3 upgrate

Source : techradar[dot]com

Sony will debut its brand new, feature-packed camera interface to harness the rumoured 20-megapixel camera on its next flagship 'Honami' phone, leaked snaps seem to confirm.

The Gadget Helpline site, which brought us leaked snaps of the device (aka Xperia 1i) last week, has now posted pics of the new camera UI, previously outed by XDA developers earlier this month, running on the device.

The new pics showcase the new Timeshift Burst mode, which enables users to select 'the best moment' from a selection of pictures, while there's also a new Effects & Filters post-production screen.

The AR Effect mode, which will could enable Augmented Reality images to be superimposed onto pictures, is also pictured running on the device. The example pictured above showcases a dinosaur walking across the frame. Scary.

Live streaming to Facebook

Another significant new feature mentioned, but not pictured, is Social Live which, TGH claimed, will facilitate live video streaming to Facebook.

There's also another look at a second AR feature called Info-Eye, which will enable users to discover more about their surroundings by using the device's camera.

Sony is yet to officially confirm 'Honami' or 'Xperia 1i' or whatever it decides to call it, but the device is likely to succeed the impressive Xperia Z phone.

Recent speculation has pointed to a 5-inch Full HD display, 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip, Qualcomm Adreno 330 graphics, 2GB of memory, 16GB of storage, microSD, LTE and NFC support.

• Already own an Xperia Z? Check out the best apps for your Sony smartphone

Source : techradar[dot]com

Nokia has expressed frustration with Microsoft's failure to give smartphone users a convincing reason to switch to Windows Phone, in comments representing the public first signs of strain in the pair's relationship.

The Finnish company's vice president Bryan Biniak said Microsoft has not held up its end of the bargain because essential, frontline apps are still missing from the Windows Phone store.

In an interview with the IBTimes, Biniak said smartphone users are unwilling to compromise their mobile lives by switching to the platform, regardless of how impressive recent hardware releases have been.

He said Nokia is trying to 'change the culture' at Microsoft' in order to stress that the battle to overhaul iOS and Android cannot wait any longer.

Give me a reason

He said: "To give you a reason to switch, I need to make sure the apps that you care about on your device are not only on our phones, but are better. I also need to provide you unique experiences that you can't get on your other devices."

"People rely on applications for their day-to-day life and if you don't have something which I use in my day-to-day life I'm not going to switch [operating systems] because I don't want to compromise the way I live my life just to switch to a phone.

"It's not just about the hardware, it's about the tools that are on the hardware. You can't sell a phone without the apps, you just can't."

No time to waste

Nokia's recent launches have included the impressive Lumia 925 and the soon to be released 41-megapixel Lumia 1020 cameraphone.

However, the Finns are concerned these great handsets will stay under the radar for potential buyers due to Microsoft's lack of haste in attracting top developers to the platform

Biniak added: "We are releasing new devices frequently and for every new device, if there is an app that somebody cares about that's not there that's a missed opportunity of a sale.

"We are trying to evolve the cultural thinking [at Microsoft] to say 'time is of the essence.' Waiting until the end of your fiscal year when you need to close your targets, doesn't do us any good when I have phones to sell today."

If you want a job doing well...

Although the app gulf between Windows Phone and iOS and Android isn't as large as it was, Microsoft's platform is still missing apps like Instagram, a Facebook app worthy of the name, and of course, Google's impressive suite.

Nokia has attempted to take matters into its own hands, campaigning for the launch of Instagram on Windows Phone, while also securing an exclusive deal to bring FIFA '13 to Lumia Phones.

On that note, Biniak saved his most scathing comment until last. He said: "As a company we don't want to rely on somebody else and sit and wait for them to get it right."

Will Biniak's comments jar Microsoft into caring as much about Windows Phone as it does about Windows 8 and Xbox? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

• The Lumia 1020 is the phone that will save Nokia, according to our own Gareth Beavis. Find out why he thinks the Finns are firmly on the comeback trail.

Source : techradar[dot]com

It can be hard for Android users to keep track of what exactly their apps are doing, but it looks like that's about to change with Android 4.3.

Android Police caught wind of a function called "App Ops" in the latest Android update that lets you control exactly what apps can access, be that navigation, data, phone calls or something else.

That way if specific apps are acting up and such as, for example, using your phone's GPS while you don't want to turn navigation off system-wide, you can go into App Ops and restrict the problematic app's permissions.

It seems the feature isn't fully ready yet, but there are a number of ways for adventurous Android users to activate it.

You have my permission to die

TechRadar asked Google to clarify whether users were meant to access these controls and whether the App Ops feature will ever be implemented more fully in the OS. We haven't heard back from the company yet, but we'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, it seems the easiest way to access individual apps' permissions on Android 4.3 is to open the app and navigate through the settings menu to "App Ops."

But to get the full App Ops experience you can download a third party called Permission Manager app from Google Play.

The app was launched yesterday, though it looks like these functions weren't yet meant to be accessed in this way, so use at your own risk.

But if you do boot it up, it should display a list of all your apps with the specific functions each use and a timestamp showing the last time they used them. It's divided into four categories based on permissions related to "messaging," "location," "personal" and "device."

Selecting an app shows a full list of permissions for it with easy on/off toggles, though it seems those permissions won't show up there until the app has tried to use them at least once.

That means at this point you'll never know if the list is complete, since location permissions for Facebook won't show up there until Facebook has tried to use location services at least once. It's a slight annoyance that may be part of the reason this feature isn't 100 percent there yet.

In addition, if you turn off location services for, say, Facebook, then forget that you did so, the system won't remind you if you try to use geotags in Facebook and the app can't access the GPS. It simply won't work.

So again, use at your own risk, and hopefully "App Ops" will get more official in a future Android update.

• Android 4.3: when will your phone get it?

Source : techradar[dot]com

It can be hard for Android users to keep track of what exactly their apps are doing, but it looks like that's changing in Android 4.3.

Android Police caught wind of a function called "App Ops" in the latest Android update that lets you control exactly what apps can access, be that navigation, data, phone calls, or whatever else.

That way if specific apps are acting up and, for example, using your phones GPS, but you don't want to turn navigation off system-wide, you can go into App Ops and restrict the problematic app's permissions.

It seems the feature isn't fully ready yet, but there are a number of ways for adventurous Android users to activate it.

You have my permission to die

TechRadar has asked Google to clarify whether users were meant to access these controls and whether the App Ops feature will ever be implemented more fully in the OS.

But in the meantime it seems the easiest way to access individual apps' permissions on Android 4.3 is to open the app and navigate through the settings menu to "App Ops."

But to get the full App Ops experience you can download this new third party Permission Manager app from Google Play.

The app was launched yesterday, and it seems these functions were not yet meant to be accessed in this way, so use at your own risk.

But if you do boot it up, it should display a list of all your apps with the specific functions they use and a timestamp showing the last time they used them. It's divided into four categories based on permissions related to "messaging," "location," "personal," and "device."

Selecting an app shows a full list of permissions for it with easy on/off toggles, though it seems those permissions won't show up there until the app has tried to use them at least once.

That means at this point you'll never know if the list is complete, since location permissions for Facebook won't show up there until Facebook has tried to use location services at least once. It's a slight annoyance that may be part of the reason this feature isn't 100 percent there yet.

In addition, if you turn off location services for, say, Facebook, then forget that you did so, the system won't remind you if you try to use geotags in Facebook and the app can't access the GPS. It simply won't work.

So again, use at your own risk, and hopefully "App Ops" will get more official in a future Android update.

• Android 4.3: when will your phone get it?

Source : techradar[dot]com

Google has its sights set on the future with projects like Google Fiber and Google Glass, and now it's adding real time voice-to-voice translation to that list as well.

Google's Vice President of Android Hugo Barra said this week that Google is now in the early stages of creating real time translation software that it hopes to perfect within the next "several years," according to The Times.

The company already has prototypes phones that can translate speech in real time, so that a user speaks into the device in one language and the person on the other end hears it in a different one, like the fictional Babel fish in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or the TARDIS in Doctor Who.

"That is where we're headed," Barra said. "We've got tons of prototypes of that sort of interaction, and I've played with it every other week to see how much progress we've made."

Same old hurdles

Google's speech-to-speech translation project is reportedly being developed as part of Google Now, the Google services suite that's being designed to predict your needs before you know them yourself.

The real time translation is reportedly better for certain language pairs, such as Portuguese and English, but accuracy remains an issue.

Anyone who's tried to use Apple's Siri or Android's voice-to-text services knows that a little background noise can cause a lot of inaccuracies, and that's something Google is wrestling with still.

The groundwork for real time voice-to-voice translation certainly exists, though, between that speech recognition software and Google's online Google Translate service.

Google said that on that service alone it translates a billion entries per day in 71 languages, and it just added new languages from places like the Philippines, South East Asia and Indonesia.

Don't stop me now

Google discussed voice translation software back in 2010, when Google Distinguished Research Scientist and head of machine translation Franz Och made a prediction.

"We think speech-to-speech translation should be possible and work reasonably well in a few years' time," he said at the time. "Clearly, for it to work smoothly, you need a combination of high-accuracy machine translation and high-accuracy voice recognition, and that's what we're working on.

"If you look at the progress in machine translation and corresponding advances in voice recognition, there has been huge progress recently."

It would have been nice if he was right - we'd probably have real time voice translation on our Galaxy S4 right now. But at least we know they're still working on it.

• TechRadar spent a week with Google's newest search tool and wrote about what it's like living with Google Now.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Canonical is heading into the weekend with about $6.6 million (about £4.29m, AU$7.14m) raised for the Ubuntu Edge, not too shabby for the superphone's 5-day old Indiegogo campaign.

We chatted with Mark Shuttleworth, the software company's founder, on the day Edge was announced, discussing this "concept car" device and the potential crowdfunding as a mechanism for spurring innovation. We also dived into converging computing, which the Edge aims to accomplish by having it serve as the "brain" of a PC.

The Edge dual-boots Android and Ubuntu for smartphones, but when users plug into a monitor, Ubuntu for desktops kicks in. The Edge's proposed specs - 4GB of RAM, a multi-core processor and 128GB of storage - are built to take on the task of transforming into a PC manageable and seamless.

Having a shared thread among various devices draws comparisons to Microsoft's Windows 8, but Shuttleworth said there are some important disctinctions.

"I think our story scales a bit more smoothly from phone to tablet to PC," he said, drawing up Ubuntu's strenghts over the Softies' offering.

"I think we have an advantage in that our core OS is much lighter in a way. Because it works on phones it makes it to the PC faster - we're stripping out all the fat on the phone."

Still...

Canonical is clearly trying to draw its own path with Ubuntu and the Edge, but Shuttleworth wasn't without a degree of deference for Microsoft's labor.

"Microsoft has clearly articulated a design vision that's designed to expand across platforms," he said. "As much criticism as the [Windows 8] has taken, I have to agree with them. It recognizes it needs to make a bold foundation. It's very difficult to make bold transitions like that without tickling somebody's nose hairs."

Ubuntu is in its early mobile device days - the Edge won't even be out until May 2014 - but we could be in for an interesting OS war that's for once not Android and iOS.

• Speaking of Android, had a gander at Android 4.3 yet?

Source : techradar[dot]com

You know what I hate about iPhone owners? Siri.

I can't stand them for it. I have this notion that they're all sitting around in bars, screaming into their phone that they want to know what the weather is like (have you looked out the window?), or asking if they have emails from Mum.

They're probably not, as I've never actually seen anyone use Siri in real life. Nobody has. We've all heard the double-plunk of it being fired up, only to be followed by an under-the-breath "balls", and then the sad sound of it being switched off.

But, real or imaginary, you know why I don't like these people? Ask Siri - I'm sure she'll tell you (or he, depending on what country you're in). It's because I really want it, and I can't believe more people aren't desperate for a proper voice recognition app in their phone.

Google, not Now

I'm an Android user at the moment – flitting between the consumers' pet, the Galaxy S4 and the enthusiasts' grail (and TechRadar's best phone in the world), the HTC One like some kind of demented tech-addict yoyo. Both ultra-smooth. Both ultra-capable. Both Android devices.

And yet, both lacking one thing: A decent digital assistant.

A couple of years ago, when Ice Cream Sandwich was all the rage, and Jelly Bean was simply a sweet-tasting pie in the sky, we got whisperings that Google was working on an ultra cool digital assistant that would make Siri look rubbish.

That may have been the case at one time, but right now we're still left wandering around trying to get Google Now to do all the things that it's supposed to do - I've yet to hear of anyone getting relevant flight or sports details, despite their best efforts.

Google's attempt isn't meant to be a Siri challenger. It's what Google calls 'intelligent' and is meant to be different. We all know how the cards system works and that it learns from us all. .

And yet, it seems to bring up information that isn't relevant to millions of people (like stocks and shares) whilst making it impossible to carry out the simplest of tasks – like play music.

The impossible dream

OK, so I admit it, Android-fans. I have cheated in the past. I'm not wedded to Android and have enjoyed owning and using every iPhone iteration there has been. And this is where I can tell you that Apple wipes the floor with Android.

There is so much to be said for driving and being able to tell your phone to play a particular song and have it just do the damn thing. Siri is brilliant, and while it's a little limited, it does what it's supposed to do better than anything out there. If you've not tried it properly on your iPhone or iPad, at least to see if you can use it more often, you're an idiot.

And don't tell me you look stupid talking to your phone. That's what they were designed for - it's just you being embarrassed because you're unsure about what might happen.

Google Now is supposed to do something similar, but it fails miserably at searching local content when I just want it to play a song I have stored in my memory card. Forums littered with complaints will attest to my frustration.

Samsung tried to convince us that it had solved the problem when it unveiled the Galaxy S3 last year, announcing S-Voice. You'd think it could wipe out third world debt, the way Samsung sold it. Unfortunately, it can barely do the simplest of tasks. Nailed the industry, this has not. It can't even set a timer properly.

Theoretically, one of Android's strong points is the fact you can customise it so well. If you don't like the gallery, download a replacement version. Hate the keyboard? No problem, tap away on a third party one that you installed.

But this goes to show how so many people are trying to cash into the digital PA and failing miserably – with dozens of options from Skyvi and Sherpa, to Robin and Jeannie, with Iris and others in between. And all are as bad as each other, with Speaktoit Assistant having the highest success rate, albeit with its own flaws, when ordered to do something.

I don't want witty conversation with a piece of code, I just want the flaming thing to play Bonnie Tyler when it's told to.

Maybe this is something that Google will sort out with Key Lime Pie – but I doubt it. Android's motivation is to drive you towards the internet. Which is why Google Now is brilliant at web searching and not so brilliant at simpler tasks.

Until then, keep shouting at Siri. See if I care. (I do.)

I've reviewed dozens of phones and tablets for TechRadar over the years - each time putting them through their paces in the most unbiased, rigorous way possible.

But as well as being a professional, I have a love/hate relationship with tech, and that's what these columns are all about: the passionate howlings of a true fanboy. Tell me why I'm right, wrong or a hopeless idiot in the comments below or by tweeting @techradar or @phillavelle.

Source : techradar[dot]com

After whisperings of such a thing previously, the Galaxy Note 3 could arrive in triplicate according to the latest leak which suggests the company is working on 5.5-, 5.7- and 6-inch varieties.

The current Galaxy Note 2 totes a 5.5-inch screen which some might say is plenty big enough for a phone-tablet-crossover-thing.

On an Indian import and export shipment tracking database, one eagle-eyed phone fan spotted the Note 3 affiliated model number SM-N900 surface with the three screen sizes alongside it.

Big, bigger, biggest

They're tagged as "for R&D purpose" which at the very least means that Samsung is considering each of the sizes.

However, as with the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Galaxy Mega, the company could quite easily be planning to launch various devices under the Galaxy Note 3 banner.

• Is that a good idea? Phones and tablets editor Gareth thinks not

Talk of the 6-inch dimension has surfaced before, most recently in a Twitter leak. We've also heard word of a 6.3-inch Note 3 and a 5.9-inch Note 3…

The true size of the thing is likely to be revealed to us all in early September at IFA 2013. We'll be there to bring you the over-sized phone news as it breaks.

Source : techradar[dot]com

The Apple iPhone. A product synonymous with the advent of the smartphone and largely credited for shaping the current crop of mobile devices - but is it time for a change?

Back in 2007, the iPhone brand wooed fans with its simplistic concept (who puts the description of the product in the brand name anyway?), but the novelty is wearing thin.

Perhaps Apple is alienating those who are not hardened fans, the people who are put off by the iPhone brand no matter what the handset actually offers.

So could a new name reignite interest by those turned off by the iPhone and open up a whole new market to Apple? Let's find out.

More QuickRadar

Has the mere suggestion of Apple dropping the iPhone brand got your blood boiling? Then get ready to pop with more QuickRadar videos.

• HTC One meets HTC One Mini
• Xbox One takes on the PS4
• Google Glass - half full or half empty?

Source : techradar[dot]com

IP telephony firm 3CX has updated its cloud-based Mobile Device Manager (MDM) service to give small and midsized businesses (SMBs) greater control over corporate email on Android devices.

The company has equipped Version 6.3 of its MDM with AquaMail, a commercial Android email client that allows administrators to remotely push configurations to users' devices, store and delete attachments and emails (including wiping accounts if an employee leaves), and view logs.

The update also includes integration with 3CX's DroidDesktop Android app, which IT teams can use to free a smartphone's space remotely by dragging files from a desktop window that displays its interface.

Other features

MDM's existing features include mobile device management with the ability to deploy, remotely review and install apps, and monitor malware. It also allows adminstrators to remotely wipe mobile devices by sending an SMS in the absence of an internet connection.

Companies can try a fully-featured version of 3XC's Mobile Device Manager service with a free account that supports up to five devices by signing up here.

Source : techradar[dot]com

The Arctic Blue (read: blue) edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is now available in the UK from Phones 4U.

Arctic Blue: also a musically-confused tribute band that only plays Blue covers in the style of Arctic Monkeys.

Anyway, the phone itself will set you back zero pounds if you go for the £37/month contract at Phones 4U.

More blips!

Don't be blue - our patented (note: note patented) blips will cheer you up:

• Breaking Bad's final episodes will be on Netflix UK a day after US TV
• Google Translate gets handier with a handwriting tool
• Google Play Games goes retro with Konami Code Easter Egg

Source : techradar[dot]com

Apple may have reported healthy iPhone sales this week, but its being dwarfed by its robotic competitor.

The recent IDC tracker findings, which look at the worldwide shipments and market share of all mobile phone makers, noted that Apple shifted 31.2 million iPhones in the last quarter, but only nabbed 13.1% of the market.

Apple and Samsung were the only two vendors in the top five to report a drop in market share, with LG, Lenovo and ZTE all clawing back some ground as Android handsets grew massively in popularity.

LG was one of the big winners in the last year, driven mostly by the popular Nexus 4 (although this was thanks to Google's incredible subsidy on the handset) as well as members of its Optimus G and F- and L-Series phones too.

Lenovo and ZTE grabbing fourth and fifth place respectively shows that China is becoming a key battleground in the smartphone war, and one that Apple has yet to come close to cracking thanks to ongoing battles to effectively range its handsets in the region.

Not the One?

HTC is once again absent from the rankings, despite gaining awards all over the world for its recent One handset.

The company has recently released the HTC One Mini, and it strongly tipped to re-enter the budget market soon, along with unveiling a phablet device, in order to address dwindling sales and profits.

Don't worry about Samsung though, as the South Korean brand is way out in front of the pack, with shipments of 72.4 million smartphones showing a huge increase on the 50 million shifted in the same period last year.

The rise of interest in the market is such that this actually led to a drop in its share, taking 30.4% of the market.

Nokia is still in second place in the overall worldwide mobile phone (including non-smartphones) market, lobbing 61.1 million units into the market to take 14.1%. It was a drop of 27% year on year, but we'll gloss over that.

So come back at the same time next year, to see if Huawei, HTC or Nokia can mount an assault on the top five. Set yourself a calendar reminder now, in case you forget. We'll wait.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Sammy is bringing up the rear in this whirlwind week of earnings results, today outing figures for the second quarter 2013.

While there were plenty of positives to report, Samsung cautioned that the next few months might not be the rosiest.

As it brought home a net profit of 7.77 trillion won (about $6.98b, £4.52b, AU$7.55b), the Galaxy S4 led the way in phone shipments. It along with the Galaxy Note 8.0 pushed the mobile division's profit up 9 percent from the previous quarter.

However, Samsung warned that while the sales in the sector should remain strong into Q3, the pace of phone growth is expected to slow.

TVs and air conditioners

Third quarter smartphone sales are expected to outperform global market forecasts, Samsung noted, with low- to mid-range smartphones helping boost the non-feature phone sect compose more than 70 percent of its handset offerings.

The company said it plans to "reinforce its market leadership in tablet panels by expanding" its high-res and mass market display line-up.

It also plans to focus on offering "differentiated smartphone displays," competing on a technological front with flexible displays, among other unnamed offerings.

Premium TVs and air conditioners helped the consumer electronics division see a 14 percent sales jump from the last quarter.

Strong seasonal demand will help premium TVs grow in the second half of the year, and a smattering of offerings - from UHD to curved OLED to Smart TVs - will help Samsung take on competitors, the company said.

• Google seemed mighty un-bothered by its Motorola problem.

Source : techradar[dot]com

With the endless stream of supposed cheap iPhone pics that have been fired our way, we wouldn't be surprised if you've already made some sort of flip book of the thing in motion. For those of you with less time on your hands, this should do the trick.

The six-minute video by DetroitBORG shows the same plastic shell we've been seeing for some time now. It also puts the case side by side with some previous iPhone models to emphasise its iPod Touch-alike aesthetics.

Needless to say, we remain suspicious. While this agrees with the other leaks so far, the internet is also full of trolls. And yes, many of them would go so far as to make a fake iPhone case for the hell of it.

More blips!

Now check out more of our awesome blips:

• Ashton Kutcher, he of 'Jobs' movie fame, might be the new face of Lenovo
• Revealed: how Netflix lets you live the stream dream
• 3D printing already consigned to a museum

Source : techradar[dot]com

The BlackBerry A10 seems to be leaking all over the shop and we might have just got our clearest view of the super-sized handset to date.

A series of photos appeared on Taiwanese site Tinhte alongside a video claiming to show the A10 and a list of specs for the smartphone.

What's surprising about the latest photos is their clarity, with detailed high resolution shots giving us a good view of what is probably the BlackBerry A10 - and they're quite different from the blurry images we've had to go on recently.

A-class images

While the Taiwanese site may have got hold of the pictures, the handset featuring in the snaps appears to be a US variant as it's sporting the AT&T carrier logo on its rear.

The specs accompanying the photos and video seem to match those leaked last week, with the site claiming the A10 will sport a 5-inch display, 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and a 2800mAh battery.

There's a bit of bad news for battery fans though, as the power pack doesn't seem to be removable in the BlackBerry A10 if these leaks are accurate.

This wouldn't be the first BlackBerry 10 handset to feature a non-removable battery with the Q5 sporting a sealed chassis, but the flagship Z10 and Q10 both give you the option to pop it out.

In terms of a BlackBerry A10 release date rumours suggest it will arrive before the year is out, but there's no clear date just yet.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Canonical has added three new pricing tiers to its Ubuntu Edge crowdfunding campaign, which already surpassed 5 million (£3.25m, AU$5.44m) in just a few days.

If that sounds like a lot, it's because it is - but it's only a fraction of the $32 million (£20.8m, AU$34.8m) Canonical is seeking to fund its high-end new smartphone on Indiegogo.

The $600 (£390, AU$653) price point - which allowed 5,000 backers to secure the phone for themselves when it launches - sold out practically immediately, so they've added $625 (£406, AU$680), $675 (£439, AU$734), and $725 (£471, AU$789) tiers as well.

The next-lowest pricing tier after $600 was previously $830 (£540, AU$903), and Canonical is likely trying to rope in more low-level customers while it's still riding the wave of buzz from its initial announcement.

Get 'em while they're hot

Like the original $600 tier, each of the new price points gets backers a pre-order Ubuntu Edge smartphone.

All three have 1,250 slots available, though Canonical will offer more and more sub-$830 spots as the campaign continues.

The Ubuntu Edge is designed to be more powerful than anything that's being offered on the smartphone market today, including flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, iPhone 5, and Lumia 928.

With 4GB of RAM, dual LTE receivers, 128GB of storage, and likely a 4.5-inch display made of pure sapphire crystal, it may well succeed.

That of course depends on Canonical actually raising that $32 million, which seems only slightly less insane now that the campaign has reached $5 million in just a few days.

The company plans currently to make just 40,000 of the high-end Ubuntu Edge smartphones, with other, low- to mid-tier phones running Ubuntu possibly coming afterward.

• Curious about the inspiration behind the Ubuntu Edge? Canonical founder and space tourist Mark Shuttleworth has an anecdote about NASA for you.

Source : techradar[dot]com

The forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3 could be thundering along at an almighty pace thanks to a new 3GB memory unit announced by the Korean company on Wednesday.

The company's new low-power LPDDR3 chip has now entered mass production with Samsung promising to slide it into devices during the second half of 2013.

With the Note 3 heavily tipped for a pre-IFA arrival on September 4, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to suggest that famed phablet may be the first to benefit from the improvement in memory tech.

Samsung has promised PC-like performance and a "generational shift" from the current 2GB packages, which resides within handsets like the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S4 smartphone.

Better, thinner, faster

Among the benefits, Samsung promises smoother full HD video streaming, faster multitasking and support for faster 4G LTE-Advanced data.

The thinner chipset, built on 20-nanometer architecture, will also free up more space for larger batteries in slimmer phones, the company said, adding credence to reports suggesting the Note 3 will be more slender.

"Three gigabyte mobile DRAM will be adopted in the most up-to-date, high-end smartphones starting in the second half of this year − an initial adoption that will expand to most high-end smartphones worldwide next year," said Young-Hyun Jun, executive vice president, memory sales & marketing, Samsung.

As well the likelihood it'll appear in the Galaxy Note 3, that statement seems to confirm the Samsung Galaxy S5 will also boast 3GB of RAM.

• Samsung's next gen phones are going to have pretty sweet innards. Check out this new version of the Exynos 5 Octa eight-core processor.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Google has just unveiled its latest version of Android, an iterative update to Jelly Bean known as Android 4.3 - and HTC is eying it with interest.

Unfortunately, HTC couldn't tell us if or when Android 4.3 would come to the HTC range, nor which handsets would be in line for the update, despite Google itself confirming that the Google Edition HTC One would be getting the update "soon".

But HTC's senior global online communications manager Jeff Gordon told us, "We're reviewing Android 4.3 to see how this update fits into our plans."

HTC Dream

The company hopes to have more info for us soon - and we hope that info will be, "Yeah, sure, we'll be bringing Android 4.3 to the whole line-up... tomorrow!"

Hey, a tech site can dream. Realistically, there'll be a bit of a wait before we see Android 4.3 land on any HTC handsets, likewise Samsung, LG and the rest of the crew.

What we do know is that the new Nexus 7 will be the first new device to come with Android 4.3, while the Neuxs 4, old Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy Nexus handsets should be receiving the update from today, with the Google Edition Samsung Galaxy S4 and Google Edition HTC One next in line.

• Want to know more about Android 4.3? All the details are handily laid out here

Source : techradar[dot]com

We're all waiting for the next big iteration of Android to hit us and while we already know it's going to be dubbed Key Lime Pie, it turns out Google isn't quite finished with Jelly Bean as Android 4.3 the next update on the horizon.

Google is currently announcing the changes this new operating system will bring at the moment, so stay tuned to see all the information on the launch of Android 4.3 and the new Nexus 7, as well as any other fancy news.

Here's a round-up of the new features of Android 4.3:

Multi-user ability was added to 4.2, but with the new version you can now customise things on a user level, allowing parental controls and a lock on apps if needed through 'personal spaces'.

Apps have to be optimised to work in this way, but parental control will be much more stringent with the new version of Jelly Bean.

Bluetooth smart technology (Bluetooth low energy as it's also known) is now supported, allowing apps to connect to the low-power sensors that are all the rage in fitness technology these days.

More to follow...

Android 4.3 release date

As we've mentioned Google hasn't officially announced anything on its next version of Android, so we don't have any firm release date just yet.

Many believed that Android 4.3 Jelly Bean would make an appearance at the search giant's annual IO conference which took place in May, but sadly no such announcement was made.

Apparently Android 4.3 was at the Google IO show however, with one reporter claiming he was able to get hands on with the software on a white Nexus 4 - although his prediction that 4.3 Jelly Bean would arrive on June 10 has turned out to be false.

This hasn't stopped the rumours popping up however with many suggesting we will be seeing it sooner rather than later with a July/August launch mooted.

Android 4.3 devices

Google is likely going to treat its own-brand devices to the Android 4.3 update first, with the likes of the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and Galaxy Nexus all in line for the new software early doors.

As well as apparently running on a Nexus 4 at Google IO, Android 4.3 was also spotted on another Nexus 4 at Mobile Expo 2013 in Taiwan.

It's supposedly also shown up on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus after some leaked Bluetooth SIG reports from recent tests showed the aging handset being put through its paces once again - possibly because it has a new OS on board.

Some Google employees have also been a little lax when it comes to covering their tracks with another Nexus 4 and a Nexus 7 spotted in server logs running version 4.3.

There's also a suggestion that Android 4.3 will coincide with the release of the Moto X. A preview video showed off a host of new software features that might suggest that the 'Googorola' flagship will tote 4.3.

Android 4.3 upgrades and features

As we've mentioned the Android 4.3 update, if it actually exists, won't bring us a totally new operating system - instead you can expect some minor tweaks here and there.

One area which looks to be getting some serious attention from Google is the camera app, with snaps taken at Mobile Expo in Taiwan claiming to show the new design for Android 4.3.

While icons such as the shutter key and settings appear to be the same, the circular menu has been ditched in favour of an arc towards the bottom of the screen.

Update: Another shot of the camera app has been spied alongside a couple of other screenshots claiming to be from the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean software.

Update: It looks as though Google will be giving the notification system a bit of love with tweaks to the service allowing apps to access notifications with the ability to read, dismiss and activate buttons on them.

Other than that news on new features is thin on the ground, but we'll be updating this article when we hear more.

Source : techradar[dot]com

The LG G2 is coming. The Korean manufacturer has gone so far as to confirm the name of the handset and the event that it will be launched at.

Couple that with the plethora of leaks which have surrounded the handset, originally dubbed the Optimus G2, and there's very little left to actually find out about LG's next flagship smartphone.

Following on from the Optimus G and Optimus G Pro, the G2 will take its place at the top of LG's mobile lineup and it's hoped it will get a bigger global rollout than its rather Asia-orientated predecessors.

We've pulled together the most coherent news and rumours from around the web to bring you an overview of what you might be able to expect from the LG G2.

LG G2 release date and price

LG has been giddy over its G2 launch event, failing to contain its excitement and blurting out that it will be showing off the flagship handset on August 7 in New York.

Having spelled out the name of the handset and the launch date, we're still a little unclear on the LG G2 release date, although rumours point towards a late August/early September launch.

Pricing is equally as elusive at the moment, but taking a look a the specs below the G2 will probably be going head to head with the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, Nokia Lumia 1020 and iPhone 5 - so expect to be shelling out a lot.

LG G2 display

The LG G2 is a flagship device which means it's going to be sporting a pretty big display with a juicy resolution to really show off.

Various leaks have pointed towards a 5-inch, full HD screen and apparently it's cued up to sport a super thin bezel, which should keep the dimensions somewhat under control.

However more recent reports have suggested that the screen may actually be slightly larger, with a couple of leaks pitching 5.2 inches as the display size.

Resolution is thought to be a pin-sharp 1920 x 1080, putting the G2 in line with other full HD handsets such as the Sony Xperia Z and Galaxy S4.

LG G2 processor

You can expect to find a pretty meaty processor packed inside the LG G2, with a 1.7GHz quad-core chip appearing as an early leader in the leaks.

A benchmark test claiming to be for the LG G2 shows that the handset could have a Snapdragon 800 processor - which was later confirmed by Qualcomm and LG as the chip of choice for the next generation G-series mobile.

Another report claims there will be a number of variants of the G2, with some packing 2GHz chips and others a more tame 1.5GHz option.

There's also been the suggestion that the G2 could even pack a punchy 2.3GHz quad-core processor, which would deliver some serious power - so in short the speed is still up in the air.

What seems to be staying consistent throughout all the chatter however is the RAM, which has been listed as 2GB pretty much everywhere.

LG G2 operating system

With Android 4.3 all but confirmed and featuring on the new Nexus 7 2 tablet, the LG G2 is really set up to roll off the production line with the latest version of Google's operating system, or so you may think.

Some reports have said that the G2 will launch with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which is certainly not out of the question as manufacturers tend to be a bit behind Google and its software rollout cycle.

It's also been suggested than the G2 could launch with an even older version of the OS, Android 4.1.2, but this seems pretty unlikely.

• What's Jelly Bean? Read our Android Jelly Bean review

Other specs

Storage is another important aspect on today's smartphones and the LG G2 should sport a respectable 32GB of internal space - although some of that will be taken up by the Android OS. There's no word currently on any microSD slot.

Battery life is always a concern with the highly powered, large screened, full HD handsets and early reports pointing towards a 3000mAh power pack look to be a little optimistic.

More recently, images have popped up apparently confirming a 2540mAh battery for the G2, which is a touch smaller than the Galaxy S4 but bigger than the HTC One - with the added bonus of also being removable.

If the G2 is to go head to head with the Galaxy S4, Xperia Z and Lumia 1020 it will need to have a half decent camera, and a 13MP snapper should fit the bill.

A little design quirk which looks almost certain to be on the LG G2 are a couple of buttons on the rear of the device, just below the camera lens.

From various photo leaks these keys appear to be replacing the traditional volume rocker switch usually found on the side of smartphones.

There's even a video online claiming to show the LG G2 in all its glory - back buttons and all.

Source : techradar[dot]com