Google stated as much on a support page, noting that because the phone was released two years ago, it doesn't meet the 18-month window where devices normally receive updates.
There's also word over at Engadget Spanish the phone won't get the upgrade because it carries a chip made by Texas Instruments, a company that no longer produces mobile silicon. Therefore, it wouldn't be able to provide support for the new operating system. Google hasn't confirmed this is the reason behind the decision, but it seems likely.
It's lame to be sure, but then again, it's probably time for you to update your phone after two years anyway.
We'll probably even see the sweet new system on budget phones soon afterwards since the OS is compatible with as little as 512MB of RAM.
Google notes on its developer site that, "KitKat streamlines every major component to reduce memory use" for a broader range of devices, meaning the whole OS has been condensed, along with memory used by Google services like Chrome and YouTube. More memory efficient apps can also be created.
That KitKat OS
4.4 KitKat is seeing a lengthy range of improvements; the interface is much cleaner and boasts changes like full-screen album art during music playback to better search options like new voice command options using "OK Google."
According to Gizmodo, the OK Google feature requires heftier hardware like Snapdragon 800 so it's only out on the Nexus 5, but don't count out other Android smartphones yet since many are likely more than capable.
Olympus Has Fallen. This was the movie name-checked in Sony's recent financials, where it announced it has slashed its full-year profit forecast by a whopping 40%.
It's an unfortunate title when you consider that one of the giants of the tech world has once again showed with a plummet in profits how volatile the entertainment and technology space is.
The movie's poor showing at the box office was revealed to be one of the many things that has brought Sony slipping back into the red. This alongside an ailing TV and video camera business unfortunately masked an area where Sony is excelling – mobile phones.
As with LG's recent earnings report, smartphones are big business once more for companies that were primarily known for their television output. They are propping up profits, plastering over the cracks other devices are continuing to add to brands.
This is good news for the phone industry, but more importantly great news for mobile phone users. 2013 has been a golden year for mobile phones.
Mobile redemption
No longer are Samsung and Apple the only ones name-checked when someone asks 'what is the best mobile phone?'. The HTC One, LG G2, Nokia Lumia 1520 and Sony Xperia Z1 are all viable alternatives for the 'best phone' crown.
Sony's redemption in the phone market has come at a great time for the company. Without its recent success in this space, where sales of its phones have grown to 39%, Sony's outlook for 2013 would be, well, even more bleak.
And, despite criticism, it shows that at least one of the prongs on CEO Kazuo Hirai's three-pronged approach to the electronics market – mobile, imaging, and gaming – is sharp. But this doesn't mean that he should turn trim this approach into a solitary spike.
Let the games begin
Yes gaming was hit with a loss, because of PS Vita price cuts, but 2014 is certain to be different. The PS4 is launching, along with it better PS Vita functionality.
The PS4 also makes fantastic use of Sony smartphones and offers the 4K functionality that could be key to kickstarting people buying televisions once more, two key things that could finally create the 'one Sony' eco-system the company is currently craving.
Sony is struggling, but its renewed focus in mobile gives it hope. The news that there's a sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, does not.
Android has come on leaps and bounds since its launch in 2008, but many users are using old or low powered phones which aren't compatible with more recent versions of the OS. In fact versions as old as Gingerbread are still relatively common.
Android 4.4 KitKat aims to change that according to a new leak from JessicaLessin.com. The leak states that Android KitKat "optimises memory use in every major component" and makes it easier to develop memory efficient applications for entry level devices right down to those with just 512MB of RAM.
So if you're stuck on a phone running Android Gingerbread there may be hope for an update. If this rumour bears fruit it could also revitalise sales of ageing handsets and make lower end Android phones a more attractive proposition as they might be in for an upgrade.
Wear and walk
Android KitKat also appears to be built with wearables in mind, as the same source states that KitKat will support three new types of sensors, specifically a step detector, a step counter and a geomagnetic rotation vector.
The most obvious use for them would be in Google's rumoured smartwatch, but they could also benefit other smartwatches and Google Glass, while even phones could potentially utilise them, as fitness apps such as pedometers would surely be able to make great use of a step counter.
The source further suggests that these sensors might also be used to help Google map out indoor locations and improve walking directions.
With Android KitKat likely to be unveiled very soon it wont be long until we know just how true all this is.
Is this the rugged S4 Active mini? Do we even want an Active mini?
Mini smartphone models seem to be all the rage, and with FCC and Chinese equivalent filings joining benchmark entries, a Galaxy S4 Active mini model looks to be on the way.
Chinese FCC equivalent Tenaa has a filing for a device called the "Samsung GT-I8580", giving us some pictures that look just like the S4 Active, but a little smaller.
Add to this the fact that the spec list on Tenaa matches up with an FCC filing of a device also called Samsung GT-I8580, and we can't help but start to believe its another tangible mini outing from Samsung.
Meanwhile, GFXBench also has a 3D Graphics performance entry for the Samsung GT-I8580, sporting the same spec list.
Watering down the Active
According to the spec lists, the Active mini will come sporting a slightly smaller 4.65-inch display with a resolution of 480 x 800, making it only slightly smaller than the original S4 Active, but with a heavy downgrade display sharpness.
Most of the "mini" aspects of the device most likely refer to the general spec downgrades, as internally, it will be powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM, a drop from the original's quad-core processor with 2GB or RAM.
The rear camera will sit at 5MP and the smartphone will run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It will also come with the same physical keys setup as the original S4 Active, and the same water- and dust-resistant features.
As Samsung already has a Galaxy S4 mini out in the wild, an S4 Active mini isn't a far stretch for the company.
But while FCC filings can generally be trusted, we'll be taking at least the spec details with a grain of salt – still, we'll be keeping our ears to the ground for more news about the so-called Samsung GT-I8580.
China, India and Facebook. If you go by the numbers, Facebook (again) has enough monthly active users to be the world's third largest country.
In reporting its Q3 2013 financials, the company boasted its monthly active users hit 1.19 billion as of September 30. That's an 18% increase year-on-year. Last quarter, Facebook notched up 1.15 billion monthly users.
So yeah, the social network has been very populous for awhile now.
More importantly for the "mobile first" company, Facebook marked staggering mobile numbers. According to CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the company's earnings call, 48% of people who use Facebook on a daily basic access it entirely on mobile. In fact, web usage numbers declined last quarter for the first time, albeit only slightly.
Mobile, baby
Monthly active users on mobile number 874 million strong, a huge leap of 45% from the same time last year. On average there were 507 million mobile daily active users scrolling through News Feeds and posting statuses during the quarter.
And if you don't think ads are here to stay or that they won't grow on mobile, think again. Zuckerberg said 49% of its $2.02 billion (about £1.2b, AU$2.12b) revenue came from the platform. This was the company's first two billion dollar quarter, by the way.
Zuckerberg wouldn't bit on answering when we'd see video ads in our feeds, but said the way video on Instagram plays "been very positive so far." Facebook is taking its time rolling out auto-play ads, he said, as the company wants it to be "a positive thing" for users.
With the Nexus 5's release looming, this photo seems legit
Google's Nexus 5 was spotted out of its box today, hours before the new Android flagship is expected to go trick-or-treating officially with an announcement tomorrow morning.
The image of the powered-off Nexus 5 sitting next to its recognizable blue retail box appeared in a Photobucket album, though it's since been deleted.
When it emerged from its box Google and LG's Nexus 5 reportedly saw its shadow, which we believe means there are at least three months of winter ahead.
The Nexus 5 will likely be the first handset to ship with Android 4.4: KitKat, the newest edition of Google's mobile OS. It's been the subject of countless leaks, but we're expecting all that to end tomorrow.
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You know what they say about large tablets... large specs. That's exactly what we are thinking now that the Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 is rumored to boast some of the most powerful tablet hardware available.
The 12-inch tablet has found enough room to pack in a speedy quad-core 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor and a healthy 3GB of RAM, reported Chinese-language benchmarking site AnTuTu.
The unconfirmed Galaxy Note 12.2 is said to also include an 8 megapixel camera in the rear and 2 megapixel camera in the front.
The total storage on the benchmarked device is said to be 32GB, though that could be just one of many configurations Samsung is planning.
The larger-than-normal Galaxy Note 12.2 is said to have a screen resolution of 2560 x1600, which is the same as the newly released Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition.
Android 4.3 on board?
The reported Galaxy Note 12.2 tests indicated that the device is running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, which is currently the latest version of Google's mobile operating system.
That out-of-the-box OS may be a little dated by the time Samsung launches its biggest tablet yet. Google is expected to announce the next version, Android 4.4 KitKat, tomorrow along with the Nexus 5.
Of course, for all that benchmarks are worth, none of the tentative data can tell us when the South Korean company plans to release the Galaxy Note 12.2.
The good news for display-deprived tablet lovers is that it seems to be only a matter of time before Samsung releases this 12-inch mega tablet to the world.
HTC is facing the prospect of a UK sales ban on flagship handsets like the HTC One after losing another round of its ongoing global patent war with Nokia.
The Finnish manufacturer says it will seek an import ban on the devices, including the HTC One, HTC One SV and HTC Wildfire, following the High Court ruling on Wednesday.
Nokia is chasing compensation as well as the sales injunction after the court ruled HTC had infringed on a patent (EP 0 998 024) governing the transmission of voice and text data over mobile networks.
It is now up to the court to decide the scale of HTC's punishment, with the Taiwanese manufacturer vowing to "immediately" appeal against the verdict.
Significant
Nokia, which has filed suit against HTC in over 50 countries called the victory "a significant development in our dispute with HTC.
The soon-to-be Microsoft-owned company believes the verdict also relates to the HTC One Mini, the HTC Desire X and the Windows Phone-packing HTC 8S and 8X as they also use same chip.
A spokesperson for HTC said: "Naturally HTC is disappointed by the decision that the UK court has reached in this case and we will be seeking to appeal the finding immediately."
Any ban would be a giant blow for HTC as it struggles to challenge Samsung at the top of the Android tree, despite the overwhelmingly positive reviews bestowed upon the HTC One.
There's been plenty of buzz around a possible Amazon phone, and just when we thought the rumours had run out, they pull us back in.
The latest word, according to AppleInsider, is that the phone will use 3D gesture and eye-tracking control for input and will arrive in the second quarter of 2014.
The phone will apparently have six camera modules, four of which will be VGAs, one on each of the device's four corners. These will be the ones that detect 3D gesture and eye tracking.
There will also be a 13-megapixel camera on the rear and a 12-megapixel front-facer, while the phone is said to have a 4.7-inch touch display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor.
This all comes from people "familiar with the company's plans," but AppleInsider states that the same sources have been on the money with their information in the past.
No TV box for 2013
The Amazon phone isn't all we're hearing about though. AllthingsD is reporting that Amazon's adventure into our living rooms is facing delays, with the rumoured Amazon TV box apparently not touching down until, most likely, spring 2014.
There are a number of possible reasons for the delay, but the favourite going around right now is that Amazon doesn't believe its effort is distinguished enough from its competitors right now.
The Amazon TV was believed to be arriving towards the end of this year but time is quickly running out. Still, we'd rather wait and see a stronger contender that really gives Apple TV and Roku a run for their money.
With numerous Google apps all being updated, it seems there is something brewing over at Mountain View, something that could give us a bit of a break.
Nearly all of the Google suite of apps are gaining updates, with that number currently sitting at 16, an increase from the original 12 that were spotted.
This could signal the imminent arrival of Android 4.4 KitKat, the OS update that we are heavily expecting to launch alongside the LG-built Google Nexus 5, and perhaps the new Nexus 10 tablet.
App updates usually pass by unnoticed, but when 16 updates are all being spotted at once, there's definitely something fishy going on.
Updated on 29 Oct 2013? But when will we get them?
Is this apocalyptic news?
These updates have also not rolled out to devices, and there are no change logs (just an updated date in the Play Store), so what is Google waiting for?
The easiest and most obvious answer here is Android 4.4 KitKat. We're all starting to get excited, as November 1 is a date that has been touted, and that is the day after tomorrow.
We'd bet all our savings on this launching alongside at least one Nexus device: the Nexus 5.
If you've noticed that your iPhone 5S battery is quick to drain and slow to charge, you could be the owner of one of "a very limited number" of handsets that has a battery defect.
Apple has conceded that some of the new iPhones have a problem with their batteries, although it's not saying how many are affected beyond "a very limited number".
The company's spokeswoman, Teresa Brewer, told the NYT, "We recently discovered a manufacturing issue affecting a very limited number of iPhone 5S devices that could cause the battery to take longer to charge or result in reduced battery life."
Circle back
Apple is "reaching out" (contacting) those with affected phones to provide replacement handsets.
In our full TechRadar iPhone 5S review, we deemed the battery to be a little better than that of the iPhone 5's - specifically when it comes to standby life. However, actually using the handset still gulps that juice down like a hyperactive toddler on a hot day.
There's good news for non-defective iPhone 5S handsets though: "The iPhone 5S charges phenomenally quickly." Phenomenally.
First the Nexus 5, now this - seems companies can't keep quiet on their own websites when it comes to unannounced products these days.
Motorola looks to have spilled the beans as a listing for something called the Moto G appeared on its website earlier today. Engadget and Droid Life both made the spot, but the reference has since been removed. A moto-g.com link went to nowhere.
Recent reports have pointed to a budget phone known as the Moto DVX coming from the Google-owned company, and Motorola recently trademarked "Moto G." The trademark covered both phones and accessories, so the G in question could be the new name for the budget DVX or another item all together.
With a recent price drop of the Moto X in the US, all signs are pointing to a Motorola announcement of some sort coming down soon.
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Future is giving away £10,000 worth of tech prizes
TechRadar's parent company Future is giving away a massive stash of tech worth £10,000 in our biggest ever prize draw.
The prize pool includes a year's Sky+HD subscription, £2,000 Sigma D-SLR camera, Sony BDV-N590W home theatre system, a JVC GCXA1 Action Camera, Pure Jongo S3 and lots more gadgets besides. There's even a mountain bike and Garmin Edge 810 Bike Computer!
There are 45 prizes which will all go to one lucky winner.
To be in with a chance of winning, simply text the code TRR to 87474 (texts cost £1 plus standard rates of approx. 10-12p).
BlackBerry has confirmed BBM for iOS and Android will be gaining new features "within months" as Voice and Video calls are lined up to join the IM offering.
Anyone currently rocking a BlackBerry 10 device can make free voice and video calls (as long as your data plan/Wi-Fi covers it) to other BlackBerry users using the Canadian firm's BBM application - but these features are set to become more universal.
Andrew Bocking, BlackBerry's VP of BBM, confirmed to Canadian broadcaster CBC that the update to the newly launched BBM app for Google and Apple devices would be arriving in the near future.
Money, money, money
BlackBerry offers its BBM service free of charge and it raised eyebrows when it announced that its premium messaging service would be taking the leap onto rival platforms - especially considering the firm's rocking financial standing.
There is a money-making end game however, with Bocking also confirmed that the BBM Channels feature would be making the transition to Android and iOS soon - although we're still waiting for an exact release date.
BBM Channels are, in short, a way for companies to gain a presence on BBM and ultimately a way for BlackBerry to sell ads and sponsored posts on the platform - think of them like Facebook Pages merged with company Twitter accounts.
While Channels is yet to take off it a big way just yet, the addition of 10 million new BBM users on two new platforms could well boost the appeal and eventually make BlackBerry a few bucks in the process.
LG has officially unveiled its first smartphone with a curved display, in the form of the 6-inch LG G Flex.
Following a series of leaks, the Korean company has lifted the lid on the handset which curves vertically from top to bottom, rather than horizontally like the rival Samsung Galaxy Round.
The device, which will only be on sale in South Korea, carries a 720p display, is powered by a Qualcomm 800 Snapdragon processor with 2GB of RAM. It's also got a 13-megapixel camera and a 3500mAh battery.
The real news, of course, is the presence of the curve, which LG says offers better ergonomics for making calls, holding and, of course watching video, which it likens to watching a movie in IMAX.
The Wolverine phone
Interestingly, there's also a completely new feature; a self healing coating on the rear of the device which LG says will eliminate scratches on the rear of the device within minutes.
In its press release the company likens the new tech to Wolverine from the X-Men. Naturally.
The device, which also features the rear-mounted volume keys a la the LG G2, will launch in Korea next month, but the company is mum on a potential roll out around the world.
Like the Samsung Galaxy Round, this could be a test model for a future launch around MWC 2013.
Nexus 5 coming 11/1... or 1/11 if you're doing it correctly.
The Nexus 5 release date has been the subject of fervent speculation in recent weeks and, to be honest, we thought it'd be here by now.
Google has yet to announce a launch event for the eagerly anticipated Android 4.4 KitKat device, and the latest online estimates have suggested the company may wait until the October 31 to pull the trigger.
However, ever-prolific Twitter leak artist @evleaks weighed in on Sunday suggesting the device will be arriving on November 1, which is this coming Friday.
Along with a press render of the device in white, the anonymous leakster wrote: "In white. 11/1."
Wait nearly over?
Of course that is open to interpretation. It's unlikely that Google would hold a launch event on a Friday, so November 1 could be the on-sale date?
Anyway, we shouldn't have to wait to long to find out. Or will we...
Thanksgiving, Christmas, CES 2014. That's how we're splitting up the next three months as we prepare for a whirlwind of feasting, wrapping paper and the hottest tech on the planet.
With an eye on those crazy days in January, we're readying ourselves for a typhoon of phones, tablets, laptops, gaming tech, TVs, wearables, refrigerators and whatever other home appliances companies can stick a computer into.
From January 7 to January 10, CES 2014 will invade the Las Vegas Convention Center per usual, and we're gearing up to see everything from "must have" to "please, get that away from me." There are the usual Day One keynotes and press events on January 6, plus several pre-show going-ons on January 5 that we'll be covering too.
Below you'll find the latest inklings of what we expect from the upcoming show. We'll regularly refresh this page, so check back during the coming months for all the latest about the most high-profile tech show of the year.
Samsung to show new Galaxy phones?
Samsung hardly misses the chance to shine a spotlight on itself, and its presence at CES 2013 was no different. We saw Youm, its flexible display tech prototype, more TVs than need be listed here and former President Bill Clinton. So yes, Samsung left an impression.
For 2014, we're zeroing in on two bits of consumer tech in particular: the Galaxy Round and Galaxy S5.
You spin me right round baby, right round
Reports suggest that with slowing sales of the Galaxy S4, Samsung has decided to push the Galaxy S5's release date up to a possible launch during CES 2014. With a potential 64-bit chip, 16MP camera and all-metal body, consumers may forgive the oddly-timed release and clamor for the new Android machine anyway.
As for the Galaxy Round, even though it's reportedly a prototype at this point, Samsung should have plenty to say on its ability to create bendy devices. Whether we see another curved phone, hear about a full Round roll out or see something else entirely isn't yet known, but with LG nipping at its heals with its own curved phone, Samsung's turn at CES should show us more on the flexible display front.
As for the rest of the tech, Sammy will likely unveil its latest and greatest television sets (Vegas turns into TV town during every CES), cameras, home appliances and laptops, but reports aren't yet firm for these categories just yet.
Microsoft's bigger presence, but not triumphant return
"Microsoft is back at CES!" or so was the flavor of many headlines in early October. Turns out the company isn't making the spectacular CES splash it was made out to be, as it quickly downplayed its plans for the 2014 show to The Verge.
That's not to say Microsoft won't be out in force in LV, as the company confirmed it will have "a substantial set of rooms for meetings with our partners." It's in these rooms we expect OEMs and press alike to learn more about the adoption of Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 RT, sales of Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, what's the score with Nokia and much more.
Some sit-down time with the Surface 3, perhaps?
During CES 2013, Microsoft showed off a pre-production Surface Pro, and we'd be hard pressed to think it won't have a new piece of tablet, smartphone or phablet to generate some pre-release buzz.
Let's not rule out Microsoft hosting a press event or two, even though it's staying off the main keynote circuit.
Sony speaks to next-gen gadgets
Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai is slated to deliver a keynote address as part of the Tech Titans keynote series, "where CEOs from the most powerful companies in technology present their vision for revolutions in products, services and networks."
Sony will be coming off a holiday season where it saw the release of the PS4, and with a few high-powered phones rumored for release in November, look for Hirai to drop sales figures and talk about Sony's role in pushing hardware innovation forward.
No, there won't be RoboCop
More to that point, the company is reportedly working on a virtual reality headset modeled in the vein of the Oculus Rift. According to Eurogamer, Sony's targeting a 2014 release for its VR dream.
A keynote where he's supposed to talk about his "vision for revolutions in products, services and networks?" Sounds like CES 2014 is a plausible place for next-gen PS4 accessory to rear its head.
Steam Machines may become more than vapor
After much teasing throughout the years, Steam finally unveiled its concept for the console, called Steam Machines. However, despite giving us previews of the Steam controller and Steam OS, we still have yet to see a Steam Machine.
It does tend to get steamy in Las Vegas...
Valve is slowing getting into the game, and plans to give 300 lucky Steam users a beta version of its own Steam Box to test out, though further details haven't been released yet (we did say slowly).
If the thought of computers and exercise seems like an oxymoron, you couldn't be more wrong. In fact, fitness tech will see a much bigger presence during CES, with the Digital Fitness Area being expanded by 30% to include more space for new tech.
Though fitness bands like the Fitbit Force and Nike Fuelband are already familiar faces, we'll probably see more bands and other types of wearable tech battle it out for our attention.
Don't come to the pool without one
Speaking of wearable tech, the Pebble made a splash at CES 2013 where its release was finally announced - cut to fall 2013 and a wave of others like the Sony Smartwatch 2, Samsung Galaxy Gear and Qualcomm Toq have joined the fancy watch scene. With rumors of the Google watch and Apple's iWatch hot on their heels, we definitely expect to see more smartwatches pop up during the show.
Beyond the wrist, high fashion - or just fashion in the form wearable tech - will also make waves. Karen Chupka, senior vice president of CES, said to look out for "... jackets that adjust based on outside temperatures to solar-charging handbags and more, innovations in wearable technology are shaping the [tech] industry" at the 2014 show.
Perhaps we'll see and try out functional and fashionable tech that we won't be too embarrassed to wear (looking at you, Google Glass).
The 3D printing explosion
It's not a tech expo without a 3D printing demo going on somewhere (see: IDF 2013), but CES 2014 is taking it to a whole new level with a larger-than-ever area dedicated to the machines that let you print your own bowls.
3D doodling on the Strip? It could happen
According to CNET, Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Electronic Association, said on October 1 that the 3D printing tech zone is sold out for exhibitors. The area is meant to complement others dedicated to motion tech, robotics and more.
Will we see the tech expand printing do-dads, guns and heart valves? We hope to find out in Vegas.
Did we mention there will be TVs?
If there's one thing you can always count on seeing at CES, it's the beastly TVs that get bigger - and better - every year.
Ultra HD 4K TVs will be back on hand to look at (or look up at) during CES 2014. A quick refresher: Ultra HD aims to deliver four times the resolution of today's full High-Definition TVs, with more than eight million pixels of resolution.
We expect the bigwigs - Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Toshiba, Sharp - plus smaller guys like Hisense to return in full form to show off bigger, better and brighter Ultra HD TVs.
We've already received an invitation to one TV maker's press conference on January 6, though we're sure Hisense will also discuss its foray into new devices, namely tablets.
Japan Display's newest screens display high-density images
What's more important: overall pixel count, or the density of those pixels? It's a relevant question, as today Japan Display Inc. unveiled a 5.4-inch 1440x2560 display with a pixel density of 543 pixels per inch.
This announcement came just one day after JDI, a conflagration of Japanese tech companies, revealed what may be the world's smallest 4K screen, a 12.1-inch display with a pixel density of 365ppi.
The 4K screen has a higher resolution but lower PPI, while the opposite is true for the smaller display. Both announcements came out of Japan's FPD International 2013 expo this week.
Both displays are undoubtedly impressive, but the high density smartphone-sized screen announced today probably has a better chance of actually making it onto devices any time soon.
Pixel perfect
JDI actually unveiled two displays today: a 5.4-inch 1440x2560 TFT LCD panel with a density of 543ppi, and a 6.2-inch version with the same resolution.
However, the 6.2-inch display naturally has a lower, but still impressive, pixel density of 473ppi thanks it its larger size.
JDI called the 5.4-inch version the highest-density smartphone-sized display in the world, and we can't argue with them.
Like the 4K display unveiled yesterday, the two screens announced today use JDI's low temperature poly silicon (LTPS) technology to keep power consumption low and thus reduce size requirements.
So the new displays could potentially be used in slim smartphones with impressively small bezels.
Don't be surprised if these high-ppi displays start showing up in Sony phones at some point, since Sony is one of the partners in Japan Display Inc.
Help appears to be on the way for ardent iPhone gamers keen to ditch the touchscreen and preserve battery life for other activities, according to snaps and information leaked online on Friday.
The first pictures of the anticipated Apple-certified game pad from accessory manufacturer Moga have emerged courtesy of @evleaks, along with a name - the Moga Ace Pro.
The notorious Twitter leak artist also revealed a few details, the most pertinent being the presence of an 1800mAh battery, which will allow gamers to play at leisure without draining their iPhone's lifeforce.
Judging by the photos, the Moga Ace Pro will be extended out to accommodate the iPhone, with the Apple handset handily docking into the Lightning connector
Look out, Nintendo and Sony
Moga has developed a host of similar peripherals for Android smartphones, such Bluetooth-powered Pro and Hero Pro controllers but this will be the company's first iOS-friendly gadget.
Just days before the Nexus 5 drops in, there's now word that its popular predecessor the Nexus 4 is getting a long awaited LTE upgrade.
According to Engadget, a filing at Bluetooth SIG suggests that the Nexus 4 is now certified for LTE support.
The popular Android-heavy device has been in the wild for a year already but has lacked that extra boost many other phones already have - so for those anxious for their Nexus 4 to join the speedsters, an upgrade should just be around the corner.
Sticking around
With LTE enabled on the Nexus 4, the phone will probably stick around remaining in the Google Play Store right next to the Nexus 5, unlike the iPhone 5 which got the boot with the iPhone 5S and 5C release.
An official Nexus 4 LTE announcement is still up in the air, but with the filing listed so recently and the Nexus 5 possibly launching on October 30 or 31, we can bet they'll arrive on the scene around the same time.
The Android 4.3 update is currently on its way to HTC One handsets around the world, bringing Sense 5.5 and an extra slice of Google Drive storage space with it.
While most HTC One owners in Asia, the US and Canada have been enjoying the update for a few weeks already, users in the UK and other areas of Europe have been less lucky.
But the good news is that some users in Europe have begun to see the update trickling out - we're in touch with HTC to see if we can get some more exact information out of it.
Bean and gone
As well as Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) and Sense 5.5 (quirky food-based names need not apply), the update seems to be bringing an extra 25GB of Drive storage to users.
Add that to the 15GB the handset comes with in the first place and you're looking at a sweet 40GB of space for your digital bits and pieces.
You won't get the storage upgrade if you're using the HTC One Developer Edition thanks to the unlocked bootloader though, and you can only activate the offer once per Google account.
Not that you were planning to try anything other than that though, right?
Then we were told that it was too squeezed for time and wouldn't have the chip ready in time for the new phone.
But apparently that's now changed. According to GforGames, Samsung has almost finished work on its 64-bit chip, which will most likely feature eight cores and is "almost ready for its release".
Five alive
The site adds that there are still some small technical and logistical tweaks that need to happen, but Samsung is past the difficult stage.
But with so much back and forth on this one, we you're better off putting money on Kanye West being his own best man than on the S5 definitely coming with the 64-bit Exynos chipset.
The Galaxy S5 is rumoured to be appearing as early as January, earlier than the March release we initially anticipated.
Lego is fun. People love smartphones. So the Phonebloks concept sounds like a winner - a smartphone which allows you to really easily replace broken parts or upgrade to newer technology with simple blocks.
Fancy a faster processor? No problem, just pop out the old one and stick in a faster block. Broken the camera? Just buy a new one and replace. Easy, right?
If only someone knew how to make it. For now, it's just a good idea and nothing more. But if you have the answer, get in touch!
More blips
While we try and figure out how to piece together this blocky smartphone, why not check out some more of our bit size blips.
Windows Phone hits a data usage snag - and it's not even its fault.
Microsoft has confirmed that the Twitter client on its People hub might be causing some Windows Phones to re-download contact profile images over and over again, leading to a data drain.
The Verge, who reported the issue to Microsoft, is suggesting that the problem may be caused on Twitter's back-end.
Twitter is currently moving all profile pictures on to another server, and changes being made by the social media giant may have triggered the issue.
The drain is dependent on how many contacts you have on the Twitter client within the hub, with users reporting data usage amounts attributed to the hub to be about 530MB, while others have said 412MB over 30 days.
Temp fix
It is not known how long this issue has been occurring for, nor why it is only effecting some users and not others – or exactly which Windows Phone devices.
Luckily, Microsoft does have a fix, though it is temporary as company works on a permanent fix. This may take longer as it is being caused by a change made by Twitter change, which Microsoft will need to work around.
Microsoft's temp fix is to only have the hub sync to Twitter only once a day to reduce the data impact on users.
You can also just unlink your Twitter account from the People hub until Twitter has finished its server migration or Microsoft rolls out a better fix.
Despite this problem, the new Nokia Lumia 1520 is still worth a look.
The Z1S will reportedly be the new flagship, with a 4.3-inch 720p display and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip.
More importantly
The other new device rumored for the Nov. 12 event is something being called the Sony Xperia "Tianchi," and it's a whole lot more interesting.
The Tianchi will reportedly be aimed at budget-minded consumers, but will nevertheless sport an eight-core processor.
That's because that eight-core chip will be MediaTek's more affordable 2GHz MT6592 or MTK6592, its first "True Octa Core" processor.
Like a spider's legs
MediaTek considers its processor the first "true" eight-core chips because all eight of its A7 cores can operate simultaneously.
Speculation over the summer held that this powerful MediaTek chip might hit phones as early as 2014, but apparently it might arrive even sooner than that in Sony's Xperia Tianchi.
In addition to the new chip, the Tianchi is said to pack a 6-inch 1280×720 display.
With Nov. 12 just a few weeks away we might catch a glimpse at these new Sony devices soon.
Sorry Instagram users, but the grace period following Facebook's buyout is all but over. Ads are invading imminently and today we got our first glimpse at what we can expect from the commercial interruption.
In a post on the Instagram blog, the photo sharing app said photos and videos marked as 'Sponsored' will start to appear in feeds in the US next week, beginning with a small number of brands already using the app.
The company says it is encouraging advertisers to be creative and engaging with their posts, while a FAQ post on its website says the posts will remain in 'the spirit of the community,'
That could mean a number of things, but it's likely the ads will have some sort of faux artistic merit and deploy the famous filters, frames and blurring tools.
No hiding from ads, but ads can be hidden
Interestingly, the company will tap into a user's Facebook likes and their basic profile information to determine which ads will display on that individual's Instagram feed.
However, those who aren't connected through Facebook won't avoid Instagram ads. The company will make use of previous Insta-likes or, failing that, just throw stuff at your wall and see what sticks.
"We want to show ads from businesses that are interesting to you, and to do that we will use information about what you do on Instagram and Facebook (our parent company)," the company said.
"For instance, this might include the people you follow and the photos and videos you like on Instagram, and your interests and other basic info on Facebook."
Feedback
In somewhat better news, users will also be able to hide ads from their feed (not without seeing them first of course) and offer Instagram some feedback on why they don't want to see anymore like it.
In the blogpost the company wrote: "If you see an ad that doesn't interest you, you can tap the "…" below it to hide it and provide feedback about what you didn't like. This will help us show you more interesting ads in the future."
An image from Samsung's glasses patent (credit: Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service)
Is Samsung working on its own version of Google Glass, either on its own or in collaboration with the Big G?
That question came up earlier this month, and it's popped up again thanks to a newly discovered patent filing.
The Samsung patent was submitted to Korean authorities this month, according to the Wall Street Journal, and it shows a wearable device that looks an awful lot like Google Glass, but with a "sportier" focus.
But the existence of the patent suggests that Samsung is in fact not working with Google on a Samsung version of Google Glass, as was previously suggested, but rather creating its own, separate wearable device.
Barreling forward
Samsung's interest in wearables is no secret, though the company's Galaxy Gear smartwatch was recently met with a mixed reception.
That shouldn't stop the Korean company from barreling forward, and a jump from the wrist to the face could be just the thing.
The patent in question today covers a design for "a type [of glasses] with earphones integrated, allowing [users] to take phone calls and listen to music during workouts."
Like Google Glass, this Samsung facewear can reportedly tether to a smartphone to display alerts and messages, or provide controls for the device through the glasses.
That's part of the sports focus, as the Samsung wearable is meant to be used during workouts and other activities where a user's hands are occupied, the patent suggests.
It also features lenses that are transparent or translucent.
What's in a name?
The initial rumor earlier this month said that Samsung's version of Google Glass will be called "Gear Glass," to match the Galaxy Gear's branding.
But we're thinking "Galaxy Glass" might be an even better option.
No matter what Samsung calls its facewear tech - if it does indeed come out with it at some point - it could provide a welcome companion to users' iPhones and Android phones, not to mention the Galaxy Gear itself.
Vine has sprouted scores of users, and now editing the perfect 6-second clip just got a whole lot easier.
Today the Twitter-owned app on iOS and Android received an update that introduces saved sessions, which means you can save your clips for later.
Although the Vine app has never forced you to post a video immediately, before this update there was no way to roll back to an older clip once you recorded a new one.
The new update lets you save up to ten posts at once, giving plenty of wiggle room to edit and share all your snappy masterpieces later on.
OUTATIME
Speaking of editing, the other new feature the Vine update introduces is "Time Travel." The new functionality lets you remove, reorganize, and even replace any shots within a clip.
No more Vine-bombings
Now when you're editing the video will be split into smaller image boxes which you can move around to rearrange every shot in the clip.
Did someone Vine-bomb your short clip? Now you can jump back into the short video and remove any instance of their existence.
The update covers both the iOS and Android versions of the app, and is available for download now.
Smartphones are great, they're basically a computer in your pocket packed full of features to make your life easier. But some of those features are less obvious than others, so to help you get the most out of your phone here are 10 things that you might not have known it could do.
1. You can change the launcher on your Android
Almost every smartphone maker overlays Android with its own interface, be it Samsung's TouchWiz or HTC's Sense. They spend enormous amounts of time making sure they get it just right, trying to improve on stock Android while standing out from the crowd.
But despite their best efforts they can't please everyone. Features are lacking or forced on you and things just don't look or feel right.
Thankfully there's a solution. Smartphone makers aren't the only ones who can develop an interface (or launcher) for Android and many third parties have unleashed their own creations onto Google Play, allowing you to download new launchers and replace whatever one your phone came with.
A quick search for 'launcher' will turn up many, but some are better than others. Nova Launcher is among the best. It closely resembles stock Android but gives you a number of powerful tools to further customise it, from a scrollable dock, to new homescreen transition effects and the ability to add widgets to the dock.
The basic app is free, but a paid for 'Prime' version adds even more features, such as customisable gesture controls.
Another option, particularly if you want a launcher you can show off with, is Next Launcher 3D. As the name suggests, it uses a 3D effect to make icons pop out of the screen.
Fancy effects aside it's also got a robust feature set, including the ability to create custom themes and app icons. At £10.35 it's not cheap, but can you really put a price on the sense of satisfaction you'll get from having the showiest launcher around?
2. Control other devices with your infrared equipped phone
More and more Android phones are being released with infrared blasters, particularly high end handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One.
If your phone has one of these then in theory it can control anything that responds to infrared signals. You'll likely find that your phone already has an app that makes use of it hidden away somewhere, for example on the Samsung Galaxy S4 you're looking for 'WatchON', which can be programmed to control your TV or set top box.
But even if your phone doesn't have a built in infrared control, or you just don't get on with the one that is included, you'll find that Google Play has a few available to download.
3. Your phone can identify songs
You might have realised that you could get Shazam or SoundHound for your Android, Apple or BlackBerry phone, either of which can be used to identify a song as it's playing. But did you know that Google and Microsoft have also created their own song identification tools?
Microsoft's is built right in to Windows Phone 8. While a song is playing simply tap the search button on your phone, then tap the music icon and it will get to work.
Google's solution is called 'Sound Search' and if it's not already built into your phone you can download it from Google Play.
It takes the form of a widget which you can simply tap on to identify something without even leaving your homescreen. It can only identify songs which are available on Google Play, but the upshot is they can then be purchased straight from the widget.
4. You can turn your Android into a games console
There are some tremendously powerful Android phones around, but raw power isn't all that's required for a good gaming experience. Sometimes you need a big screen and a proper controller too.
The good news is that both of those things are within your reach. MHL (aka Mobile High-Definition Link) is a way to connect phones and other portable electronics to HD televisions and monitors, using an MHL cable connected to the micro USB port on your phone at one end and your screen's HDMI port at the other.
Not all phones support this but some do, with Samsung and Sony in particular supporting MHL on a number of handsets.
Assuming your phone supports it, you can pick up an MHL cable from around £10 and then you'll be able to experience media from your smartphone on a big screen.
That's great for video, but for games you're still stuck with a touchscreen interface. However there are also a number of Bluetooth smartphone controllers available, including Samsung's own Game Pad. With one of those in hand you can take smartphone gaming to a level that approaches home consoles.
5. You can use your smartphone as a level
Most smartphones include an accelerometer, which is used to identify your phone's orientation, so that for example the screen will know when to auto rotate.
However it can also be used as a spirit level. If you have an Android or BlackBerry phone you can download apps to do this, but if you have an Apple device running iOS 7 the function is built right in.
Having said that, you might be hard pushed to find it, as to get to it you first have to launch the compass app and then swipe across to a second screen. It's not the most obvious location but now you know where it is you can get to work checking your bed/table/sofa/TV/house/cat is level.
6. Use your Galaxy S4 to check temperature and humidity
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is packed full of useful and not so useful features, but one that you might have missed is its temperature and humidity sensors.
The data from these is buried in the S Health app, under the heading 'Comfort Level'. The idea is that the sensors are used to judge whether you're comfortable in your current environment.
It's an odd use for an unusual feature, but it can be interesting to see the temperature and humidity of your surroundings and whether you're likely to be comfortable in them, particularly if you use it to judge a good time and location to start a workout.
7. You can give your phone visual voicemail
You might have visual voicemail already and if not you're missing out. Smartphone users can get access to it by downloading an app, such as 'HulloMail', which is available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry.
It displays your voicemail as a menu, allowing you to tap a message to play it rather than having to listen to every message in order. You can also pause, fast forward and rewind messages and the app even allows you to view voicemails as text, though that latter function isn't free.
8. You can use the volume buttons to skip songs
Using a phone as an MP3 player is great, but when the screen's off and the phone's in your pocket it can be a chore to skip past that Haddaway song you drunkenly added to your playlist. However with a little bit of setup you can make your volume buttons double as a way to skip track.
On BlackBerry 10 this is easy, just head to 'System Volume' in the settings screen and turn 'Music Shortcuts' on. Once you've done that you'll be able to skip to the next track by holding the volume up button and skip to the previous one by holding the volume down button. A tap on either of them will change the volume as usual.
On Android something similar can be achieved with the help of a third party app such as 'Pocket Skip Track', which allows you to change track with a double tap of the volume buttons.
Unfortunately on iOS this is only possible with a jailbreak, while Windows Phone 8 has no way of doing it without first turning the screen on.
9. You can get Nokia apps on any Windows Phone 8 handset
One of the great things about Nokia's Lumia range of phones is the selection of Nokia apps that come with them. HERE Maps and HERE Drive+ in particular are impressive mapping and sat-nav applications.
However even if you don't have a Nokia handset there's nothing to stop you making use of some of them, as HERE Maps, HERE Drive+ and HERE Transit are all available to download from the Windows Phone 8 store.
10. You can block numbers
No longer do you have to suffer PPI claims lines and other nuisance callers, as most smartphones offer the ability to block numbers.
Now that iOS 7 has arrived this is a breeze from an iPhone. There are several ways to do it but the easiest is usually just to go into your call log, tap the 'i' next to the number you want to block and then tap 'block this caller'.
On Android things can be a bit more convoluted as how you do it depends in part on what phone you have. It may be that you can do it in a similar way to iOS 7, as for example on the HTC One you can simply tap and hold a number in your call history and then tap 'Block contact'.
Many other smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, feature an auto reject list, which is generally found in the settings menu and allows you to manually add numbers to a list of rejected callers.
However if all else fails there are also apps to do the job, such as 'Truecaller' and 'Mr. Number'.
Sadly it's not currently possible to natively block a number on BlackBerry 10, nor can Windows Phone 8 do it natively, however there are apps available from BlackBerry World that do the job, while Nokia has implemented a blocked numbers list on Lumia phones, which you can access from the 'extras + info' section of the settings screen.
And a few more for luck…
Rocking a Windows Phone 8 handset and wish there was an easier way to access your Internet Explorer tabs? You're in luck! The browser defaults to having a stop/refresh button to the left of the address bar, but you can switch this for a tabs or favourites button in the internet settings menu.
Loving your HTC One but wishing BlinkFeed would blink off? Well, while there's no way to fully disable it you can make it a whole lot less intrusive.
First off you can sort-of hide it by changing your default homescreen to something other than BlinkFeed and putting BlinkFeed on your far left or far right homescreen, so that you never need to see it.
Both of these can be done by tapping the three dots at the top of BlinkFeed, then selecting 'customize home screen'. From there you can move homescreens around and set your default one (the one that the phone always starts on) to something else.
If you're worried about BlinkFeed draining your battery and really never plan to use it, you can turn off all the feeds from the 'Topics and services' section of the menu and if you want to totally hide it you can always use a different launcher.
And finally…You can automate Android with the help of a third party app, such as 'Tasker'. What do we mean by automate? Well for example you can tell your music player of choice to launch whenever you plug headphones in, tell your Wi-Fi to automatically turn on when you get home or turn off between midnight and 8am (or whichever period you plan to be asleep during) and a whole lot more.
Tasker in particular has an incredible number of options and variables that you can tweak. It can be a little daunting but if you put the time in now to get your Android phone automated to your liking, it will save you a lot of time and hassle in the future.
Your phones battery is likely to thank you too since it can ensure that data connections are never on when they don't need to be.
Looking for a fancy new phone to go with your new-found knowledge? Check out our top list.
However, the 6.2-inch display naturally has a lower, but still impressive, pixel density of 473ppi thanks it its larger size.
