With a quad-core processor and Android 4.4 KitKat on board the LG D-410 - thought to be the LG G2 Mini - is beginning to sound like a pretty decent offering.
A recent benchmark result for a handset carrying the ID LG D-410 revealed a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 540 x 960 display and Android 4.4 KitKat on board.
If these details are genuine then we'd expect the handset to make it to market in the guise of the LG G2 Mini.
Arriving soon?
There's no mention of screen size in this particular results, but other rumours surrounding the G2 Mini appear to be pointing towards the 4.3-inch area - which would match rival Samsung and HTC phones.
LG hasn't given us any hints as to whether it's working on a smaller version of its flagship G2, so we're taking this news with a pinch or salt - but considering what its rivals are doing we wouldn't be surprised if the G2 Mini did see the light of day in the coming months.
In terms of a LG G2 Mini release date we're looking towards both CES 2014 in Las Vegas and MWC 2014 in Barcelona as possible launch locations. TechRadar will be reporting live from both, so we'll be sure to keep you updated.
A team of hackers, notorious for their ability to smash through Apple's walled garden has released a simple jailbreak for iOS 7.
The tool, which arrives three months after Apple launched its revamped mobile software, comes from the Evasi0n team and works on devices running iOS 7.0 to 7.0.4.
The jailbreak, which allows iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users to access unauthorised apps and services through third-party apps stores like Cydia, can be achieved in five minutes.
9to5Mac reports that users will need to connect their iOS device to a Mac or PC using a USB cable and follow the instructions at Evasi0n.com.
At your own risk
However, as always iOS device owners will be performing the jailbreak at their own risk. Firstly, it invalidates the warranty and can make the device unstable.
The creator of the Cydia app store tweeted to say the build of the store included within the jailbreak isn't official, as he wasn't made aware of the jailbreak being released.
Jay Freeman tweeted: "I thereby have no clue what will or will not work, or even what evasi0n7 includes; I hope that people bear with me as I figure this all out."
Google's perennial attempts to turn Google Play Music into a force against iTunes have been boosted by the arrival of 'I'm Feeling Lucky Radio' within the company's iOS app.
The feature, like its search engine forebear, allows users to access a selection of music the app thinks they will like, auto-generating a radio station based on previous listening habits.
The app will automatically bring tunes form the users most-listened to genre.
Big Thumbs Up!
The revamped iOS app also access offers auto-generated playlists (such as Thumbs Up) for the first time and All Access subscribers will also have the opportunity to search genres within the app.
The revamped app comes into competition with Apple's own iTunes Radio platform, which is yet to outside the United States.
Microsoft has offered a little festive treat for Windows Phone users by offering 20GB of bonus SkyDrive storage for an entire year.
The offer, which runs until the end of January, was publicised to Windows Phone owners via email this weekend. Users can follow the link within the email to sign up.
This adds to the 7GB of free storage Microsoft already gifts those using its mobile operating system, allowing the to safeguard files and photos on the cloud.
Microsoft hasn't made clear what will happen at the end of that one year, but it's possible that Microsoft will start asking you to pay for that 20GB once the promotion is over.
More blips!
These blips will always be free because we love you guys...
BlackBerry has just signed up for a five-year partnership with Taiwanese iPhone maker Foxconn.
The two will work together to create new devices, according to BlackBerry, which stated that the initial focus of the partnership will be Indonesia and "other fast-growing markets" with an early 2014 target.
The news comes on the same day that BlackBerry announced a painful third-quarter loss of $4.4bn, with the company only shipping 1.9 million smartphones last quarter compared to 3.7 million the quarter before. It's even had to cancel its annual developer conference, BlackBerry Live - an event which has been running for 12 years.
"Partnering with Foxconn allows BlackBerry to focus on what we do best – iconic design, world-class security, software development and enterprise mobile management," said BlackBerry Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BlackBerry.
Chen also made it clear that it's committed to hardware "for the long-term", despite the company's declining fortunes.
While it will be focusing on emerging markets for the time being, we could well see some Foxconn-built handsets winging our way in the near future.
For now, we just hope that BlackBerry's new partnership can help it to turn its fortunes around.
There will be a lot of you out there who are already rocking a smartphone and/or a tablet, but for those of your about to dip your toe into the technologic water you may be wondering if you need both or just one.
Luckily TechRadar is on hand to help you make that decision, whether it's picking up your first mobile device or perhaps it's time to upgrade and you're unsure which direction to follow.
Of course you could make things easy and plump for both a shiny new smartphone and a tablet, but they don't come and cheap and for many of us we only realistically need one or the other.
There are numerous things to consider when it comes to choosing between a phone or table, but the key questions you need to ask yourself are; who is it for, what will it be used for, how much are you looking to spend and what screen size do you fancy?
The biggest difference in phones and tablets is obviously screen size. This distinction is forever becoming more blurred as supersized smartphones begin to encroach on the 7-inch tablet market.
Looking for the best of both worlds? Then you might want to check out the 6.44-inch Sony Xperia Z Ultra or the 6-inch Nokia Lumia 1520 - there's even the 7-inch Asus FonePad which is a tablet first and foremost, but also has calling and texting abilities.
The huge Sony Xperia Z Ultra
If plans for your new device centre around watching a lot of movies, reading books and magazines or browsing the web then we'd recommend buying a tablet.
While you can do all these activities on a smartphone, the smaller screen isn't as comfortable from a visual perspective, although phones are much better for music playback thanks to their portable nature.
We'd recommend a phone for those users who spend a lot more time on the go, for those who value portability as much as functionality. Tablets are becoming ever more portable, but nothing will ever replace the ease of being able to just pop something into your pocket.
Phones are the better messaging devices, so if you're going to be sending a lot of texts, constantly checking your email or spending hours on instant messaging services then you'll want to lean towards a smartphone. Tablets are able to manage emails as well as run some instant messaging services, but phones win out overall here.
We love take pictures, so if you want your new mobile device to also double as a point and shoot snapper you'll once again want to be heading to the smartphone side, as they pack better cameras than tablets while also being a lot easier to carry around.
As rivals to Google Glass rise up, is wearable tech about to break through?
George Orwell was wrong. The future isn't a boot stamping on a human face forever; it's the human race so engrossed in Facebook that it walks off the end of a pier. Such - ahem - pier pressure will only get worse as computing becomes more pervasive and stuck-to-our-facey, and there's no tech more pervasive and stuck-to-your-facey than Google Glass.
Google's eyewear isn't on sale yet, but its early "Explorer" adopters have been given some new goodies just in time for Christmas. There's a new Upload To YouTube feature, a Weather app, news updates from the Wall Street Journal and Winkfeed, and Google Hangouts. Sadly there's no sign of a pier detector. Maybe next year.
Glass is also becoming more gregarious. This week the MyGlass app came to iOS, enabling iOS users to walk off the end of… OK, OK, we'll stop now. It's not all good, though. The latest Glass updates remove Guest Mode, which will make sharing and showing off the device more difficult.
A different view
Glass isn't the only intelligent eyewear that wants to get in your face. As Matt Swider discovers, there are several Glass rivals around - and some of them are an awful lot cheaper than Google's effort. One of the most interesting is GlassUp, which has an expected price tag of just $299.
Another interesting Glass alternative is Epson's Moverio, which we first saw back in 2011. It's been given a major revamp and rethink since, and it's now aimed at business users. Unlike Glass, it's binocular, enabling users to see in 3D space without interfering with their normal vision.
Maybe that's what Santa wears for a sat-nav system. As you might have noticed, it's nearly Christmas - and that means it's time for our super soaraway Christmas Gift Guide, which covers gifts for every conceivable interest.
Does the guide include tablets? Of course it does, and we reckon tablets of all shapes and sizes will be on many people's wishlists this Christmas. But will you want to kiss a MyTablet under the mistletoe? We think not - and our guide to the very best tablets to put under the tree offers 10 much better alternatives.
Once you've installed all your apps, there's more good news: you can take them travelling. This week BA became the first European airline to approve tech use during take-off and landing. There are conditions - the devices need to be in Airplane Mode or equivalent, so you won't be able to make calls (hurrah!) or use mobile data (boo!) - but it's nice to see air travel finally catching up with the rest of the world.
And that's all for this week. We hope Santa's good to you. Merry Christmas when it comes!
Former Android developer Chris DeSalvo has revealed that Steve Jobs' announcement for the first iPhone meant that Google had "to start over" after two years of development on Android.
At the time of Apple's presentation Andy Rubin, director of the Android team, was in a car on the way to Las Vegas for a meeting.
When the news hit he ordered the driver to pull over so he could watch the rest of the webcast, and turned to a colleague to exclaim "Holy crap, I guess we're not going to ship that phone" - referring to a BlackBerry-like handset Google had in the works.
DeSalvo manages to sum up the feelings of pretty much everyone at Google that day: "As a consumer I was blown away. I wanted one immediately. But as a Google engineer, I thought 'We're going to have to start over'."
More blips!
Lucky for you, our blips are ready to shop right now
Samsung and LG have already got in on the curved game, and now Apple looks set to follow suit.
A patent for a flexible wraparound display, made using a powder liquidmetal process, has just been awarded to Cupertino and could be a strong hint at what's coming in the iPhone 6, or more likely the iPhone 7 or 8.
A wraparound display would of course mean that you could view content on the back, front and sides of the phone. The patent does suggest, however, that you'd still have non-touch surfaces on the top and bottom of the phone.
Aside from the touchscreen, the device would use rotational motion detection, using a number of sensors such as a gyroscope and accelerometer to adjust the display depending on your viewing angle.
Tilt it like you mean it
Interestingly, the patent also references devices of different shapes, including a hollow cylinder, a hollow tube with an oval, or even a triangular or rectangular shape.
In other words, there's a strong suggestion that the technology could also be used in other future Apple devices such as smartwatches (hint, hint, iWatch).
At the same time, another Apple patent has been published by the USPTO suggesting that Apple is looking at souping-up the colour accuracy in its displays.
The patent is for a "Quantum dot-enhancement display having dichroic filter", which is a very fancy way of saying that Apple is looking at a technology for creating colours that are much more precise and vivid.
Here's everything we know about the iPhone 6 and iWatch so far
Make sure you have a good data plan, more free voice call options are coming...
We already knew that free voice calls on BBM for Android and iPhone was coming when BlackBerry's VP Andrew Bocking confirmed it in October, but it looks like we won't be seeing it until early 2014.
Along with BBM Voice calls, BBM Channels will also be migrating to iPhone and Android, as well as adding more emoticons and what the company said in a blog post will be "easier file sharing" for pictures, you location and voice messages.
The new features are in beta right now, with BlackBerry repeating Bocking's earlier words, saying that a bigger roll out should happen within "the next couple months."
Where's the video?
No word yet on BBM Video, however, which Bocking said back in October was also coming to the messaging service in "coming months".
Once it does however, it will be able to better compete with Apple's iMessage and FaceTime, which started offering free voice calls over an internet connection with the rollout of iOS 7.
BBM's chatroom-type feature Channels migrating over to iPhone will also put it in a more profitable position than Apple's native offerings for its own devices, as it will be able to also sell ads and sponsored posts on the platforms.
Here's our review of BlackBerry 10, on which BBM is a native
When the next Moto G comes out, they should rename this one Moto O.G.
Android smartphone owners have gotten used to carrier-delayed firmware updates, so when Motorola announced an earlier-than-promised KitKat rollout, our robot antenna ears perked up.
"Starting today, we are rolling out Android 4.4.2 to Moto G phones bought on Motorola.com or Amazon.com in the U.S.," wrote Punit Soni, head of product management in an official blog post.
"KitKat will come to other Moto G carriers and regions soon as well."
Motorola is getting a jump on the "early 2014" release window it had originally promised for its mid-range handset during its launch last month.
The Google-owned company has also been steadfast in pushing KitKat to its higher-end Moto X, ensuring Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile subscribers are up-to-date.
Moto hasn't forgotten about your Droids
Droid Ultra, Maxx, Mini also updated
Motorola's slightly older Droids are starting to receive the KitKat upgrade as well starting today.
The Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx, and Droid Mini tweaks include a new full-screen mode, improved security, smarter power use and better camera software, according to a Verizon's website.
Also, just in time for New Year's Resolutions, Fitbit direct syncing is now possible thanks to low-powered Bluetooth 4.0.
Other apps being updated or integrated include Verizon Mobile Security, Verizon Tones, Google Photos, and NFL Mobile 8.2.3.
While carrier-owned apps aren't typically worth toying around with, everything else will make you glad that Motorola is staying firm on its firmware update promises.
Lumia 1520 Purview shooter have already been enjoying the ability to shoot relatively compression and processing free photos for a few weeks now, and Lumia 1020 owners will finally be able to join in the fun now.
More recently, Nokia updated its official Camera app to work on a much larger range of other Lumia devices. The official Windows phone partner also stated DNG support is coming to more phones as the Lumia Black update becomes available, which will hopefully be soon.
The small but crucial fixes
Aside from increasing the Lumia 1020's picture shooting abilities, the Black update also tweaks a few functionality quirks. These include adding screen lock rotation, the ability add custom ringtones for specific notifications, and closing running apps is easier to do in the app switcher.
1020 users might also notice the new and improved Glance background app that adds little temperature check and pedometer tools to the lock screen. Along with these added features there's also Bluetooth 4.0 LE support along with better battery monitoring.
Of course, there's the standard firmware enhancements and other miscellaneous stability fixes. The downloadable update is hitting devices now, but if for those who just want to kick it to their devices manually, it's available for download here.
If you fancy a break from the iOS and Android duopoly, and Windows Phone and BlackBerry just aren't doing it for you, you may like to take a look at the upstart Jolla Sailfish smartphone.
The modestly-specced handset, which arrives packing a 4.5-inch 540 x 960 display and a 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, can be had for €399 (around £331).
There's also 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1-megapixel front facing camera, so it's certainly not a Nexus 5 contender in terms of a value-for-specs comparison.
A whole Jolla Android apps
However, despite the mid-range specs, a reasons more folks may be willing to consider the Sailfish-running handset over more moderately priced rivals is its ability to run Android apps.
It is using the Yandex app store, which holds over 85,000 Android titles, while there's also plenty of native Jolla apps to choose from.
Those ordering the device will have to wait a while to get their paws on it before Santa arrives as delivery estimates currently sit at 3-4 weeks.
Can Jolla oust Ubuntu or Samsung's Tizen in the battle of the upstart mobile operating systems? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Like it or not, the smartwatch appears to be here to stay, but the best may be yet to come as companies like Motorola secure patents that would allow wearable devices with bendable displays.
The US Patent and TradeMark Office (USPTO) published a new Motorola Mobility patent application today (via Engadget) that outlines how the Google-owned company might introduce a wearable electronic device with a flexible display.
Patent application 13/526673 was first filed on June 19, 2012 and credits the inventor as Alberto R. Cavallaro, revealing that Motorola already had its sights on wearables well ahead of the current smartwatch craze.
Of course, Motorola has filed plenty of other patents and trademarks for wrist-friendly wearables as well as flexible displays, but the newly published application is the first time both have appeared in the same place.
Bending over backwards
Motorola's patent application specifically details a method whereby "a flexible chassis module including a front portion having a channel and a rear portion" can be coupled to a display module.
"This method allows flexing of an electronic device with a flexible display for curved viewing, if desired, or bending with minimal stress," the patent reads.
The technique described by Motorola is not unlike a traditional metal watch band, which connects a series of narrow links to provide the necessary flexibility.
The difference here is that the entire display of a smartwatch could bend with the chassis - but first Motorola will need to figure out how to make equally bendy circuit boards, if not sidestep the laws of physics entirely.
Forget the smartwatch - we take a hands-on look at Google Glass!
Auto Shazam, the feature that launched in May to turn our iPads into always-listening music matchers, has now arrived on iPhone and iPod Touch for both free and Encore Shazam users.
If we have one frustration with Shazam, it's getting the app up and running in time to catch the final few seconds of that TV advert which keeps getting away.
Auto Shazam solves that problem by identifying songs and TV content without you even having to touch your phone. It'll work when the app is open or when it's running in the background, even if the screen is locked.
Matchmaker
When a match is made the song or TV adverts and shows will automatically be added to your collection by order of date. Currently Shazam only works widely with TV shows in the US, functioning on a selective basis in the UK.
Auto Shazam is set to "off" by default so you'll need to flip the Auto switch at the top of the Shazam home screen to start it up.
Of course, there are likely to be two points of concern here: privacy and battery life. Shazam says that the app "does not save or send audio samples" - instead a digital fingerprint of the song is matched against Shazam's database.
As for battery, we've asked to know exactly how much of a drain Auto Shazam might be on your juicepower, but we understand that the app should demand less power than a phonecall.
To get Auto Shazam, you'll just need to download the latest version of the app.
For many people purchasing a smartphone, having a decent camera is still one of the biggest draws. It seems forever ago that cameras were first introduced on mobile phones, with 13 years being about 6 lifetimes in the tech world.
Today's camera phones are modern wonders, and with more photos being taken on an iPhone every day than any other camera, there must be something that Apple is doing right.
The iPhone 5S now comes with an upgraded 8MP iSight camera, which Apple says is 15% larger and 33% more light sensitive than the previous model, the iPhone 5.
Apple has taken a similar approach to its newest camera as HTC did on its UltraPixel tech debuted on the HTC One. An increase in pixel size has lead to more light being taken in by each pixel, meaning better all round photography, especially in lower lighting conditions.
But let's not forget the ageing iPhone 4S also has a really decent camera that many would argue was better than many handsets released at the same time. This understandably lead to a significant amount of camera apps on the App store, should you want to get more out of your iPhone's camera, so we've trawled through and rounded up our best picks for you to chew over.
Instagram
With the photo creation and sharing app being famed for both the right and wrong reasons (anyone remember Insta-adgate?) it is easy to see why Instagram became so popular, if only to share photos of dinners and cats.
Photo sharing can be argued to be the biggest draw of Instagram, although an equal amount of people will argue its the range of filters that Instagram allows you to apply to your photographs, allowing even the most amateur of photographers feel like a pro.
The app also allows you to manage your Instagram account, viewing photos from those that you follow, and make comments. There isn't a whole lot we can say about the Instagram app, as its popularity means that most of it has already been said.
If social photography is more your thing, why don't you check out the Facebook Camera app. It is literally what it sounds like, with the app allowing you to post photos to your Facebook account quicker than ever and see what your friends are up to.
Flickr
Flickr is a photo sharing and editing site, with a dedicated app and is one of the biggest and best known photo sharing apps, being used around the globe.
Coming with a terabyte of storage, it is popular service amongst intensive photographers as a way of storing photos to the cloud, as well as providing a level of photo manipulation that includes 16 different filters.
Like Instagram, the Flickr app also allows you take to take control of your Flickr account, meaning that you can connect with friends and access their photo streams. For those that want a little more control over their images, Flickr also allows you total privacy control meaning no Insta-ads.
If you're using Flickr for photo storage, why not consider using Dropbox. Whilst not a photography app from the start, it does come with the ability to instantly upload your photos from your camera, via Wi-Fi or your data plan if you're feeling flush with the megabytes.
Text Camera
When it comes to internet photography, there are seven things that we can all point to as defining this generation. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, cats, cats and more cats, and the so-called "inspirational quotes".
Text Camera can go some way to covering all three forms of these, although the food and felines will take a back seat. As the name suggests, Text is the main focus of the app. That said, filters are also supported, helping make your images all the more inspirational.
There are already a variety of pre-installed doodles and quotes, as well as the ability to write your own quotes which means that time when your friend shouted Kettle for C in a game of 'I spy' can be forever immortalised.
If you decide you like the idea, but want a different implementation, why not check out InstaText. It too comes with filters and stickers, and the ability to pop text over imagery. It does miss the quote functionality though.
Camera Art FX
Filters are probably the most common features when it comes photography apps.
Nigh on every app will pack in some sort of filter functionality, as they can often cover up some of the more basic amateur photographic mistakes.
They also add a level of fun. Apps like Camera Art FX can make things look really interesting, adding more arty effects like comic style, doodled or painted effects, or even allow you to make your own Obama-esque 'Hope' poster.
The free app contains 12 effects, with there being 13 in the paid version.
All filters are applied in real time, meaning that you can preview what you're going to snap before you hit the shutter button.
This isn't going to be for everybody, but for those that want something similar you can always try Cartoon Camera Plus, which packs a variety of image effects to choose from.
PowerCam
For those looking to add photo effects, filters, and mess around with their images in other ways, you might not need to look further than PowerCam. Allowing you to take photos in 8 different modes, with real time view, PowerCam offers a lot.
These photo modes include Magic Shot, Colour Splash, and Smile shot, meaning that you will always get the photo of your smiling child (or baby sibling) that you really want.
It is also fast, with photos taken and effects applied in a second. HD video recording with live effects is supported as well. Photos can also be edited more traditionally, with various enhancements around. Photo sharing via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr is supported.
If you're after a different photo editor, however, why not try FX Photo Studio. It allows you to add varying filters and textures, as well as text. There are over 190 effects, including black and white and colour strokes, and you can change gamma, saturation and contrast levels to name but a few.
Camera+
Camera+ pitches itself as an app that will appeal to both seasoned professionals, as well as the most amateur of photographers. To do that, it provides options such as being able to select your exposure level and focus separately.
Other features allow you to use the horizon to eliminate crooked shots, digitally zoom up to 6x and allows you to take a forward facing photo whilst using flash. We can imagine that meaning a lot more dodgy selfies.
Camera+ also makes a song and dance about the Clarity feature. This 'makes several intelligent adjustments', which is technical chat for 'auto adjusts your images' to bring out the details in photos that you might originally have thought were unusable.
For those that are looking for a more professional style app, but don't wish to use Camera+, why don't you look at Camera Awesome. It awesomises (again, read as auto adjusts) images, as well as allowing you to select individual focus and exposure, and provides different compositions.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is somewhere in the pipeline - that we're sure of - and may have just popped up over on Antutu's database to flaunt some of its new specs.
The device is listed at the SM-G900F which is the same model number we saw a few days ago in another possible S5 benchmark spot.
Like last time, the mystery phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor in the MSM8974AC variant, along with 32GB of internal storage. But this device has just 3GB of RAM which disagrees with previous 4GB rumours.
Also disappointing, if true, is the 1920 x 1080 screen resolution which doesn't hit the QHD level we were hoping for. Although as G4Games points out, this could just be a prototype that's locked to 1080p for testing purposes.
However we're pleased to see that the 16MP camera has appeared again, remaining consistent with rumours, and according to these details we'll be getting a 2MP front-facing snapper too.
Disappointing?
Don't take any of this as read – it could turn out that this mysterious G900F is a different Samsung device entirely. Nonetheless, Antutu is sure that we're looking at the international version of the S5 in some shape or form.
Evleaks has been pitching in on the S5 rumours too, tweeting that the S5 is undergoing testing at AT&T HQ right now.
"AT&T is testing a version of that high-res Samsung handset (SM-G900A), giving some support to the theory that it's an int'l flagship (GS5?)"
That model number is slightly different, mind, and could well be the carrier version of the S5.
Can a third party app help you get more from your UltraPixels?
For many people purchasing a smartphone, having a decent camera is still one of the biggest draws. It seems forever ago that cameras were first introduced on mobile phones, with 13 years being about 6 life times in the tech world.
Today's camera phones are modern wonders, just look at the massive sensors that adorn phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, or even the half-phone-half-camera Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom for that matter.
Some manufacturers are taking a different tack, with HTC looking at creating larger pixels to let in more light. Its proprietary UltraPixel technology means that the flagship HTC One, and its brothers the One Mini and One Max creates some stunning low light imagery.
It is then probably no surprise that the Play Store has found itself populated with numerous camera apps, designed to replace the stock camera app with something either more fun or more intuitive. Here's our guide to what we feel are the best camera apps on the Play Store right now.
Paper Camera
One of the fun things about having a third party camera app is filters. There are so many filters around that choosing the right app for each purpose might prove a little difficult.
An app that we can recommend is Paper Camera, as we love the varying sketch style filters that it provides. These are provided in real time, meaning that you can see what the image is going to look like before you snap it.
There are 14 filters to choose from, with these also being able to be transferred over to video recording. You can also use Paper Camera to edit existing images, and share them to varying social accounts.
If you've decided that this isn't the app for you, but you would still like to use the sketchy effects, why not try Pencil Camera (or variants). These apps also provide real time filters, and cover a range of devices with both free and paid for versions available.
Instagram
Instagram is a photo app that is likely to appear on most modern smartphone users wish lists. The photo sharing site got so popular that it soon got bought out by Facebook.
The biggest feature that Instagram brings is its variety of filters, allowing users to take some strange looking pictures of their dinner, or their cat. These can then be instantly shared to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr and Foursquare.
The app also allows you to manage your Instagram account, viewing photos from those that you follow, and make comments. There isn't a whole to say about the Instagram app really, as its popularity means that most of it has already been said.
If you're unsure whether Instagram is for you, you could always try InstaLomo HD for Instagram. It too provides different filters, with sharing also heavily built in.
Camera ZOOM FX
On the face of things, Camera ZOOM FX is well designed, with there being no real surprises in layout as it follows the same layout as stock cameras that we have encountered.
Photo editing is also included, as with nigh on every camera app that we have seen these days, but it comes with a decent range of features.
If you're into downloading add-ons, there are over 90 that can be added to Camera ZOOM FX, including Frames, Props, Composites and more Composites.
Morphing photos is also supported, meaning that you can distort images. There is even a clever sound activated shutter a la LG devices, meaning you can set the app to take a photo with a clap or shout.
Photo distortion is rather popular, so for those that aren't impressed with Camera ZOOM FX and want a more specific app, Photo Warp will cater to your every warp need.
Cymera
We could easily focus on the filters that come in Cymera, but if we did that with every single photo app, we would be here all day. The more interesting features that Cymera offers are found deeper into the app.
Editing existing, or taking and editing photos is easy, and there are a lot of options available. The more interesting ones allow you to overlay decorations to make photos more fun, or free draw on images.
Facial detection is also built in, meaning that you can edit the faces of subjects after taking a photo. They can become slimmer, have bigger eyes and bigger smiles, and Cymera will also intelligently place varying hair styles or make up, should you desire.
If you're choosing the Cymera app because of these facial features, it might be worth checking out BeautyPlus, an app that bills itself as the ultimate self-portrait camera. It provides real time filters and removes facial blemishes to aid the less photoshop inclined.
Camera HDR Studio
HDR shooting is something that is built into many different stock cameras these days, but chances are that you might want to grab yourself a more dedicated app if HDR photography is something that you are going to be doing on a large scale.
This is where the likes of Camera HDR Studio comes in, with its ability to take HDR photographs even without HDR capabilities. It supports a whole variety of HDR modes, meaning you can take standard HDR photos, artistic or even cartoon like photos.
In total, there are 9 HDR modes, 50 colour effects, 12 artistic effects etc. Camera HDR Studio also allows you to shoot up to 30 photos per second depending on your device's speed. Lower specced devices come with support up to 10 photos per second.
If HDR is your thing, but Camera HDR Studio isn't, why not check out (confusingly-named) HDR Camera. It doesn't come with photo filters, providing a more steam-lined app in the process. HDR Camera also comes with a paid version, packing in more features.
Flickr
Flickr is a photo app and photo site that has been around for a while, now under the stewardship of Yahoo. It is one of the biggest and best known photo sharing apps, being used around the globe.
Coming with a terabyte of storage, it is popular amongst intensive photographers as a way of storing photos to the cloud, as well as providing a level of photo manipulation that includes 16 different filters.
Like Instagram, the Flickr app also allows you take to take control of your Flickr account, meaning that you can connect with friends and access their photo streams.
For those that want a little more control over their images, Flickr also allows you total privacy control meaning no Insta-ads.
If you're using Flickr for photo storage, why not consider using Dropbox. Whilst not a photography app in the regular form, it does come with the ability to instantly upload your photos from your camera, via only Wi-Fi or can coerce your data plan to do the same thing too.
Rumours about the HTC One Two have been flying thick and fast, but two of those rumours have recently been given a little more credence.
We've heard before that the HTC One Two will likely come with Android 4.4 KitKat alongside version 6 of the Sense UI, but now the insider @LlabTooFeR has tweeted something approaching a confirmation, stating that 'at the moment they are testing the device on 4.4.2 and next version of Sense.'
Not just any tipster
When @LlabTooFeR says something about HTC it's worth paying attention, as he / she /they've got a proven track record. For example back in May they let slip about the HTC One's impending update to Android 4.2.
Not that it should be surprising that the HTC One Two is coming with both the latest version of Android and a new version of Sense, but then the HTC One launched one Android version behind, so it's nice to get some reassurance.
It's not known what will actually be included in Sense 6. A wider range of news sources for BlinkFeed would be a good start, and a more intuitive menu system wouldn't go amiss either.
Can't wait for the HTC One Two? Check out the HTC One Max.
The mobile phone has gone from a novelty device to untether us from the wall to the one thing we take everywhere and expect to keep up with the demands of our unpredictable lives.
As the cost has escalated, so has our desire to keep them safe, leading to reams of cases and hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on insuring our treasured possessions.
In recent years manufacturers have made progress in making these phones more "life proof" by using tougher materials, stronger glass, and some manufacturers - such as Sony - have even made some of their newer smartphones fully waterproof.
There's a new round of companies too, aiming to make almost every device waterproof without having suffer any compromises in design or weight to achieve it. What does this all mean? We'll we've dived into the deep end to find.
Best waterproof smartphones
Whether you've been unfortunate to drop your phone in the bath, drink or even down the toilet (we kid you not), you'll have felt the pain of attempting to resurrect your phone from a potential watery grave.
If you haven't, then it's probably only a matter of time before you do according to the statistics, so here's our picks from the current crop of smartphones on the market to help you guard your device from the dangers of liquid.
Sony Xperia Z1 & Xperia Z
The waterproof Sony Xperia Z1
This article couldn't pass by without a nod to the Sony Xperia Z1, a smartphone built with the clumsy, or perhaps adventurous, types in mind. Unlike many other waterpoof phones it has all the features of a flagship Android handset, but with the addition of IP 58 rating.
This rating represents the Z1's abilities to withstand dust and water, allowing submersion in up to one and a half metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.
The Z1 superseded the Xperia Z, which was not as refined in the design department, with a covered headphone slot and only packing an IP rating of 57, meaning it's less water resistant than the Xperia Z1 (but also cheaper).
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active can take a few knocks
The Galaxy S4 is a phone we've been impressed with for months now, but as is Samsung's way, it was determined not to leave a portion of the market uncovered after Sony played the waterproof trump card with the Xperia Z.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is its answer, and despite being somewhat of an afterthought by the Korean giants, it is a fantastic handset in its own right.
It too can shoot pictures underwater, and on the surface looks tougher than the original S4, but isn't all that much bigger. Samsung gained an IP67 rating for the S4 Active which means that it should protect better from dust, but has the same waterproofing rating as the Sony Xperia Z - so that's 30 minutes of submersion at 1 metre.
There's a raft of other phones that claim to be able to withstand the wet, with the first smartphone to market being the Motorola Defy. Unfortunately it didn't make much of a splash and it's waterproofing credentials were rather over-hyped.
Then there are handsets such as the JCB SiteMaster 2. It's not a smartphone, doesn't have a touchscreen or any other fancy features, but what it can do is survive most that life could throw at it.
The tough JCB SiteMaster 2
It can withstand a full tonne of pressure, be dropped from the height of 2 metres repeatedly without damage, and as you can guess, is fully waterproof to the same IP67 rating as the Samsung and Sony phones.
I've got a non-waterproof phone
If you've already got a good smartphone, or you're set on buying a particular model that doesn't come with any waterproofing credentials then worry not: you can still save it from Neptune's clutches.
While you can pick up cheaper sprays to cover the exterior of a phone in a waterproof coating, these are usually temporary solutions. The following two companies are offering services that aim to waterproof the device for an almost indefinite period of time - so can you make your HTC One waterproof, and if so, is it really that easy to?
Liquipel
This Californian based outfit works with nanocoatings and use a proprietary tech that allows virtually any device, not just smartphones, to be covered in a super-hydrophobic layer of particles on both the outside and the inside of the device.
Liquipel is already protecting devices in the US
The process involves a vacuum to suck all the air from inside and outside the device, which is then replaced with a gas that binds to the device's surfaces and circuits, creating a gap that repels any liquid that might come in to contact with it.
The process takes around 30 minutes from start to finish, and will set you back around $60 (£37) for a smartphone or $75 (£46) for a tablet. Liquipel a US based company, though there are plans to make the service available worldwide very soon.
WaterFi
WaterFi is another US company offering solutions on a variety of devices. Unlike Liquipel it doesn't waterproof using nanotechnologies, but instead offers a patented process to help a selection of gadgets resist the wet.
It relies on a rubbery insulator that is injected into the device along with an extra layer of protection that protects from corrosion or chemicals.
WaterFi's Communications manager, Gabe Hagstrom, believes waterproofing can be liberating for a gadget lover: "The cost of our waterproofing doesn't just save the customer from paying for a repair or replacement," he told Techradar.
"It actually frees the customer to use the device in ways and places they never thought possible.
"They take their iPod swimming and surfing, the Kindle to the beach and wash it off in the ocean if it gets sandy, and take the Nike FuelBand scuba diving."
Their initial offering of a waterproof iPod Shuffle ($140 / £86) and Nike Fuelband ($220 / £136) is a perfect swimmer's solution, but it's now expanded its range to Amazon Kindles and the Jawbone Up.
It can also coat your pre-existing Shuffle, Kindle, Fuelband or Jawbone for a lower price and although there's no smartphone solution as of yet, according to Hagstrom it's something its considering with new handsets such as the Nexus 5.
"Looking forward to [waterproofing] phones we see devices that are unlocked and affordable without a contract, like the newest Nexus phone, which we would then look to waterproof and offer brand new on our website to save all the hassle of sending in a phone that's in use and going a few days off the grid."
WaterFi can also protect your tech from water
Both Liquipel and Waterfi offer viable after-purchase solutions, and with options starting at £37 to waterproof your existing phone they are a very tempting way of keeping your beloved device protected should you have a fluid mishap.
You could very easily spend this kind of money on a waterproof case, but this would of course add extra weight and bulk to the handset and detract from the design too. Of course with these products there's no major protection gained against drops or smashes, but at least puddles, baths and toilets wouldn't seem quite so scary.
And remember: while there are companies out there that claim to be able to resurrect water-damaged phones, but due to the fiddly nature of having to totally disassemble the device and potentially replace batteries or screens, the cost of this is considerably higher, with most services starting at around £65 and topping out at well over £200.
The 'Blue Earth' was Samsung's first foray into solar phones, lets see if it can't do better this time.
Both Apple and Samsung look to be beavering away on solar powered smartphones in a bid to stand out from the competition.
That's according to a report from ZDNet Korea, which claims that while Samsung is currently focused on displays, it is 'deeply considering' shifting its focus to developing solar power technology for its smartphones.
Samsung isn't alone in its sun-powered plans either, as the report also states that Apple has recently applied for additional solar charging patents - there's not much more to go on than 'solar panels for iPhones', but that's a pretty big clue.
That would make sense as battery life is the biggest stumbling block still faced by handsets and given Samsung and Apple's current popularity in the phone world they're ideally positioned to make solar power popular.
It's unlikely that either company is close to bringing the technology to market, but with two of the biggest smartphone companies in the world looking into it solar power could be a common feature of handsets a few years from now, and could really step up battery life, especially when left on standby.
Right now you can't charge your phone with the sun, so you might want to check out these battery saving tips.
The best portable chargers for your smartphones, tablets, gaming devices and more
With the massive amount of email checking, texting, mobile gaming and internet surfing everyone does, a reliable, portable charger has become essential to avoid that inevitable dead battery.
Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, going camping or simply out of the house all day, you'll probably need something that isn't too cumbersome and has enough juice to power your mobile devices.
Based on amount of usage we were able to get, weight, size and overall functionality, we tested a variety of chargers by mixing around charge times with an iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S4 and iPad 4 in different situations to create a list of the best portable chargers - though most of the external batteries are compatible with an assortment of phones, tablets, cameras and handheld gaming devices.
Generally, the portable chargers are on the pricey side but you'll definitely get your money's worth for large mAh capacities and moderate to heavy form factor, or decent capacities and lightweight portables.
We've also added a few chargers towards the end of the list that are more suitable for a day out rather than a long trip away, just in case you're just looking for a super light, quick backup charge.
1. IOGEAR GearPower Ultra Capacity Mobile Power Station
Price: $79.95 (about £51.61, AUD$89.35)
IOGEAR's GearPower Ultra Capacity charger is a great portable battery. Two USB ports at 1A and 2.1A allow for multi-device charging and at 11,000mAh, you can easily charge a phone and tablet respectively.
Though it's not very pocket friendly at 10.4 oz and a tad bulkier than an iPhone and Galaxy S4, this is still an adept portable and great for traveling long distances in the car or plane.
In fact, we took the battery to a two-day music festival and it had no issues charging two iPhone 5's that were around 10 percent each, during the 48-hour span of Instagramming, phone calls, etc. After a 55-minute charge at the end of the first day, each phone was fully charged with the GearPower lights at three bars indicating that it was still able to keep going for a few more days - depending on what needed to be charged next of course.
The price point may seem high but the GearPower can be bought at much cheaper prices making it a fantastic deal for long trips away from outlets.
2. Juno Power Hue Plus
Price: $99.99 (about £60.85, AU$112.54)
The 9900 mAH Hue Plus from Juno Power is a bit on the heavier side at 9 oz like the other larger capacity chargers but it's well worth shouldering the weight.
The Plus has a nice little LCD screen that tells you the declining charge amount which comes in handy if the usual indicator lights just won't do it for you.
There are also two USB ports (with one being 2.1A) that allow for dual device charging. On a road trip to LA, the Plus was more than capable of charging two iPhone 5's - where one phone was used heavily and one used minimally. The charger ended out the nine hour trip with 19 percent left and took the night to recharge, which brings us to the next point.
Oddly, the Hue Plus makes whirring noises when charging - though it's best to keep in mind that it may be specific to the test product. Another note about recharging the portable: you may want to keep it away from your bedside table as the LCD screen stays lit up. The Hue Plus also appropriately comes in five different hues.
3. ZAGGsparq 6000
Price: $99.99 (about £64.55, AUD$111.75)
Easily one of the priciest chargers, the ZAGGsparq 6000 charger is still a decent backup, despite a few caveats.
Its 2.1A USB outlets got the job done efficiently with two smartphones and it was able to hold a charge the next two days.
Unfortunately, the 6000mAh isn't too great with tablets and was only able to charge an iPad from 25 percent up to 60 percent before dying down to one LED light of juice left.
Not only is the ZAGGsparq small and light, but it's also wide, making it awkward to carry if using a purse or small bag - though if in a backpack, you'll hardly feel it.
The built-in prongs make it easy to charge and means there's one less cord to lose, which is actually really quite nice, and its on/off switch is accident-proof, meaning you won't randomly turn it on and waste your charge.
4. Jackery Giant
Price: $44.95 (about £29.02, AUD$50.23)
The bright orange (or silver option) Jackery Giant lives up to its name as a hefty charger weighing in at 10.4 oz (the same as the IOGEAR GearPower) but also because it's a heavyweight champ in other ways as well.
For the large 10,400mAh capacity, it's one of the cheapest chargers you can get. The Giant also travels well and can be taken on outdoor adventures thanks to its ability to hold a charge for a long time, though you'll need to charge the battery itself a whole night (about 10 hours) for a full charge beforehand.
The battery also packs a little LED flashlight which can be activated by pressing the power button twice (to avoid accidental usage), and is pretty handy if you're camping or need to find something in a flash.
The Jackery Giant did a good job charging our S4 and iPad 4 simultaneously - 10 percent to 95 percent and 47 percent to 96 percent in about two and a half hours, respectively. What's more, it even had enough juice to charge up the iPhone 5 up, with two light bars remaining.
If you're only planning to get the Giant as an occasional backup, it will hold a charge for up to six months.
5. Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation Duo
Price: $99.95 (about £64.52 AUD$111.70)
The Juice Pack Powerstation Duo from Mophie is a nice little 6000mAh portable. At 11.99 oz it actually feels lighter than its battery counterparts despite weighing the most. Because of this, it makes for a great travel companion as you can hardly feel it in your bag.
Two 2.1A USB ports allow for quick dual charging of tablets and phones, which it was quite capable of during our trips to and from the office; 0 percent battery on the iPhone and Galaxy S4 were raised to around 88 percent - 95 percent each after an hour, and it still had two lights left.
The Mophie also stayed light as a feather in our backpack though its smooth exterior did collect a lot of lint meaning it's probably a good idea to use the little pouch the battery comes with.
The biggest downside to the Mophie Powerstation Duo is its price. If you can afford the Duo, it'll serve you well, but if you want to go cheaper, Mophie has a nice little selection and from our experience with the high cost charger, it seems like the low cost options aren't too bad either.
6. Anker Astro 3E 10000mAh
Price: $39.99 (£25.99, about AUD$25.09)
It seems like it's go big or go home for the Anker Astro 3E. Like the Jackery Giant, the Anker Astro 3E is a beast of a charger and won't easily fit into your coat pocket.
Though it is a bit thinner than the other batteries on this list, it's still longer than the length of your average smartphone.
The Astro boasts the ability to hold over six charges for most smartphones - we were able to get about four with two smartphones simultaneously thanks to its two USB ports, and a third of a charge for our tablet by itself over four days before the Astro died, which isn't too shabby for 10000mAh.
Keep in mind, since it's a bit larger, it's not really a small bag type of portable - but a long trip will definitely benefit from the Astro, and it still won't take up too much room inside your bag with all your other tech devices.
7. Eton BoostBloc 6600
Price: $99.99 (about £64.55, AUD$111.75)
The high-priced Eton BoostBloc 6600 is a modest charger that surprisingly holds 6600mAh for how small it is.
Its lightweight 6.5 oz means its purse friendly and maybe even pocket friendly (for jackets at least) if you don't mind carrying something else besides your phone around, that has a bulky form factor.
It has two USB ports, 2.1A and 1A, and no on/off button, and you can shake the device for the indicator lights to pop on and tell you how much juice is left.
The BoostBloc 6600 holds charges for quite awhile and was able to charge up our iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 from around 20 percent - 25 percent to 100 percent twice on one charge, and iPad 4 about halfway before giving out.
You'll probably have to charge the BoostBloc often if you plan on using it on tablets and phones simultaneously, but the portable charges up quickly (and gets pretty hot) - this shouldn't be too much of an issue especially if you plan on taking it with you everywhere.
8. Powerocks Rose Stone
Price: $69.99 (about £45.18, AUD$78.22)
With 6000mAh, the Powerocks Rose Stone charges up around the same as the BoostBloc 6600 and boasts the same lightweight portability. However, it's longer than the BoostBloc, so it will probably be best off in a bag.
Going along with the geological theme, the indicator lights are little rock-like formations next to a camouflaged power button, making this charger quite different and fun (as much as a battery can be?)
There are also two USB ports but each only gives off 1A, so charging will be a bit slower.
But that doesn't mean the Rose Stone will leave you hanging out to dry - the battery was able to give us great juice charges on our smartphones three times on one charge. The iPad 4 wasn't as lucky though and had to charge on the next round and only from 15 percent to 65 percent, probably due to the output volume.
So as a portable, the Rose Stone is best for smartphones and does quite well, but you're better off with a Powerocks charger with a larger capacity if you're interested in this brand and design.
