The latest report from research firm NPD Group reveals that just 29 percent of core gamers are planning on buying a next generation console as soon as they become available. Those aren’t exactly the sort of numbers that Microsoft and Sony were probably hoping to hear but if recently releases from Nintendo and Sony in the form of the Wii U and PS Vita are any indication, they could be pretty accurate.
NDP Group polled more than 6,000 people in the survey but only 887 qualified for their definition of a core gamer. Core gamers are described as players over the age of nine that play games for five or more hours per week on an Xbox 360, PS3, PC or Mac. Furthermore, they must play at least one game that fits into any of the following genres: play action, adventure, fighting, flight, massively multi-player, racing, real time strategy, role-playing, shooter or sports game.
In January, Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai said sales of the PS Vita were on the low end of expectations and just last month, the company announced plans to slash the price of the portable gaming system by as much as 33 percent in Japan. Sony said the move was a result of feeling increased competition from free and cheap games sold on smartphones and tablets.
I would venture a guess that a lot of the success of next generation consoles hinges on the initial launch price. If Sony and Microsoft are dead set on launching at a price point that’s deemed too expensive, odds are it’ll be some time before they are able to make strides on the new platforms.
The Apple vs. Samsung lawsuit settlement that had Samsung paying more than $1 billion for patent infringement has been halved by the case's federal judge today.
The reason for the reduced settlement is that the August jury awarded damages improperly and excessively for the Samsung devices that infringed upon Apple's patents, according to Northern District of California Judge Lucy Koh.
As software patent blog Foss Patents explains it more indepthly, "the jury set only one damages figure per product, but half a dozen different intellectual property rights were found infringed."
The 14 infringing Samsung devices are the Galaxy S2, Galaxy Prevail, Gem, Indulge, Infuse 4G, Captivate, Continuum, Droid Charge, Epic 4G, Exhibit 4G, Galaxy Tab, Nexus S 4G, Replenish, and Transform.
This leaves Apple with about $598.9 million from the $1.05 billion in damages the jury had originally awarded the company.
Apple vs. Samsung retrial
In addition to halving the Apple vs. Samsung settlement, Judge Koh ordered a new trial to sort out the improperly calculated damages.
The case has the potential to move Washington D.C. to the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, which handles patent appeals, surmises the Mercury News' Howard Mintz, covering on the legal affairs beat.
There's also a second Apple vs. Samsung legal battle going on over Samsung's newest phones, and Siri is front and center of that spring 2014-set case.
Judge Koh, however, wants the two warring companies to go one lawsuit at a time, urging Apple and Samsung to finish the appeals process before moving onto this new court case.
The much anticipated Samsung Galaxy S4 will be unveiled on the 14th in New York and we are pretty sure that as the time of announcement nears we will see plenty of leaks and rumors related to the handset. We also will see many teasers from Samsung such as the one that you see above, as the company needs to publicize its latest and greatest device as much as possible.
The new teaser invites the public to the Times Square where visitors will get to watch the livestream of the Samsung Unpacked event. But we don’t think Samsung wants you to go to there just to watch the event, you might even get hands on experience with the device as the invite also says “experience Samsung’s new flagship smartphone”.
An unveiling at the Radio City Music Hall along with a public event at Times Square will certainly give the device good publicity in the US, which is a very crucial market for Samsung. And there could be more about the new teaser. Last year, when inviting everyone for S3’s event, Samsung hinted the glazed finish of the device. The dot pattern that you see above could be that of the S4 and it looks like a glossy plastic back cover for a black S4.
We're imagining a van stalking behind you to provide coverage
As more and more users adopt cell phones and smartphones using 4G networks, the bandwith is becoming more and more clogged.
Anticipating the next leap in network coverage, Japan's NTT DoCoMo mobile operator teamed with the Tokyo Institute of Technology (TIT) to conduct the first 10Gbps wireless test.
The study went down in December, and used a mobile station (i.e. - a van loaded with equipment) to attempt transmission in the 400MHz bandwidth of the 11GHz spectrum.
Using some two dozen different antennas, NTT and TIT were able to maintain an uplink rate of 10Gbps while traveling at a consistent speed on the road.
Like a 5G
NTT DoCoMo is hoping to run more tests uploading at 10Gbps on the 5Ghz (5G) "superhigh frequency band," despite that wavelength being troublesome for wireless transmissions.
Superhigh frequency bands don't typically allow signals to travel over long distances, and become even more unreliable when trying to transmit in and around buildings.
Lower frequencies (like 3G, 4G, and 4G LTE) have been the preferred method for mobile carriers to this point precisely for that reason, but NTT has reason to suspect it will be able to find a solution.
It's unlikely 5G will become readily available any time soon, so those of you who just upgraded to 4G or 4G LTE networks won't have to worry about being outpaced just yet.
The future applications remain a mystery pending further testing, but NTT's research could provide insight into a whole new way for data to be transmitted from mobile devices in a few years.
Tech lovers around the world are waiting for March 14 to take a peek at the hotly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S4, and now it seems that the device is going to be very, very fast. At least if you believe the new benchmark results from Browsermark 2.0 browser benchmark for the Samsung Galaxy S4.
The tests were done on a GT-I9500 device, which is most probably the Samsung Galaxy S4, which runs Build JOP40D (Android 4.2.1) and Mobile Google Chrome 25. The device has managed an impressive score of 2710, which puts it ahead of all other smartphones around, including the iPhone 5 and different versions of the S3 and Note 2.
Keep in mind, there’s no way to be absolutely certain that the device they used for the tests is the S4 and even if it is we can’t say it’s completely accurate. The real world performance of the handset could be different. Of course, Samsung certainly won’t come out with a device that’s not enough to create trouble for rivals.
As for the specs of the device? Rumors suggest a 5-inch 440ppi 1920×1080 display, a 13 megapixel cam, and Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa eight-core chip. There are also reports suggesting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor will be used instead of Samsung’s own processor due heat issues with putting the Exynos 5 Octa into a smartphone. Earlier, the Galaxy S3 shipped in the US with a Qualcomm chip, but that was because of the lack of Samsung’s own LTE solutions. At the moment it is really hard to say what the ‘actual’ specs will be, but regardless we can expect a powerhouse.
Topping Steam's recent discount, Get Games offers Borderlands 2 for only $23.99, which might be the cheapest we've seen it outside of services like CDKeysHere, as well as 50% off The Cave, Double Fine's recently released adventure title. Other noteworthy mentions include half off Natural Selection 2 and free access to War of the Roses at Steam, a Batman Arkham Collection for $22.48 at GamersGate, MoH: Warfighter for $14.99 at GameFly, and a Sleeping Dogs Bundle for $25.81 at Green Man Gaming.
Google Glass could hypothetically display flight status
It's easy to imagine using Google Glass for hands-free directions, phone calls, video recording and more, but JetBlue took it one step further in a Google+ post this week.
The airline piggybacked the #ifihadglass social media campaign to remind its fans that it's the coolest airline around, publishing several pictures of imaginative ways to use Google Glass in and around an airport.
If that sounds a little twisted to you, JetBlue's hypothetical Google Glass uses might just make you feel better.
An end to futile parking spot searches? Yes, please
And that's why we want Google Glass
Hypothetically speaking, of course.
JetBlue posted on Google+, "#ifihadglass we would continue to help the world view air travel through a whole new lens," and included several mock-ups of Google Glass being used around an airport.
First, Google Glass could display in real-time how much space is left in a parking structure when you're driving up.
It could display your flight status without you having to search frantically for a TV screen in the airport, then point out available power outlets while you're waiting to board.
After the flight, Google Glass could tell you where your baggage will be and when it will arrive.
Know how much you owe before you step in the cab
Finally, JetBlue contends that Google Glass could estimate your cab fare outside the airport.
We have a winner
JetBlue stands a respectable chance of taking the crown in the #ifihadglass campaign with these ideas, though no doubt if it really wanted a prototype Google would probably supply it one regardless - especially with applications like these in mind.
In related news, the airline posted a comment response to a request that it adds these features to smartphone apps before looking to future tech like Google Glass.
"We're always looking at features to add to our Android and iOS apps," JetBlue wrote, "and love the idea of streamlining the experience, not just from gate to gate, but from door to door."
It added that mobile boarding passes for Android are "nearly here."
Sony Electronics president and COO Phil Molyneux recently shed some more light on the notion that the PlayStation 4 will be able to support 4K ultra-high definition content. The executive said we will not be disappointed when asked if Sony’s upcoming 4K movie download service would be coming to the PS4 during a recent interview with The Verge in New York.
Here’s what we know at this point. Late last year Sony’s Ray Hartjen revealed the fact that the XBR-84X900 Ultra HDTV set will include the world’s first 4K Ultra HD delivery solution. That service was showcased during CES where we were told it will be launching in the US sometime this summer.
Fast-forward to the PS4 unveiling just last month where, in the days following the reveal, we learned that the console will support media output resolution at 4K for photos and videos but not games.
Talking specifically about the 4K video service, Molyneux said the size of a typical movie download could be 100GB or more. Another key factor that comes into play is the speed of your broadband connection which is described as one of the challenges they have to work though. He noted that they had some really good ideas that will make for a comfortable consumer experience and looking to the future, the industry as a whole needs to look into developing new compression ratios and technologies.
Molyneux said he wasn’t discounting the idea of physical 4K distribution but he believes consumers are moving more towards downloads and streaming since they are already used to it.
Google Glass could hypothetically display flight status
It's easy to imagine using Google Glass for hands-free directions, phone calls, video recording and more, but JetBlue took it one step further in a Google+ post this week.
The airline piggybacked the #ifihadglass social media campaign to remind its fans that it's the coolest airline around, publishing several pictures of imaginative ways to use Google Glass in and around an airport.
If that sounds a little twisted to you, JetBlue's hypothetical Google Glass uses might just make you feel better.
An end to futile parking spot searches? Yes, please
And that's why we want Google Glass
Hypothetically speaking, of course.
JetBlue posted on Google+, "#ifihadglass we would continue to help the world view air travel through a whole new lens," and included several mock-ups of Google Glass being used around an airport.
First, Google Glass could display in real-time how much space is left in a parking structure when you're driving up.
It could display your flight status without you having to search frantically for a TV screen in the airport, then point out available power outlets while you're waiting to board.
After the flight, Google Glass could tell you where your baggage will be and when it will arrive.
Know how much you owe before you step in the cab
Finally, JetBlue contends that Google Glass could estimate your cab fare outside the airport.
We have a winner
JetBlue stands a respectable chance of taking the crown in the #ifihadglass campaign with these ideas, though no doubt if it really wanted a prototype Google would probably supply it one regardless - especially with applications like these in mind.
In related news, the airline posted a comment response to a request that it adds these features to smartphone apps before looking to future tech like Google Glass.
"We're always looking at features to add to our Android and iOS apps," JetBlue wrote, "and love the idea of streamlining the experience, not just from gate to gate, but from door to door."
It added that mobile boarding passes for Android are "nearly here."
It’s been almost a month since BlackBerry 10 launched alongside the Z10 smartphone and users are already being treated to their first update for the operating system. Announced this morning in a blog post by BlackBerry product manager Michael Clewley, BlackBerry 10.0.10.85 addresses some of the most common complaints about the software, with improvements to third-party app performance and battery life.
Clewley says there are more than 60 battery saving improvements in the update that will result in a longer average user per char cycle for heavy users -- though he gave no specific figures beyond that. Phone, calendar and contacts features are also getting some rough edges worked out with better Gmail calendar integration, as well as improvements in how call logs are handled and importing contacts from online sources.
Blackberry 10 users will also be pleased to know that the company has optimized the camera app to take better pictures in low-light situations and enhanced video-playback handling in the browser. As for the aforementioned improvements in third-party app support, Blackberry said that this update will lead to some fresh apps, such as Whatsapp. The popular cross-platform IM application is arriving to the platform later this month.
The first BlackBerry 10 update is approximately 150MB in size and will roll out over the air through all carrier partners over the coming weeks. You should get a notification about the update when it’s available on your network, but you can also manually check by going to Settings> Software Updates> Check for Updates.
The HTC One features an aluminium body, 4.7-inch HD screen and intriguing camera tech
The HTC One is set to hit the UK's streets on March 15, and networks are rushing to stake a claim on the company's new flagship Android phone.
However, there's far more to the story than that: what about pre-orders? Prices? Thoughts about whether it's worth buying a phone that you've not held properly?
Don't worry - we've spent some time browsing the relevant catalogues and come up with the prices, plans and pontifications you need to worry about before thinking about shelling out your hard-earned.
EE
The first network to decide it's worth bringing you the new HTC handset, this network is also one of the most pricey. It's offering the One from 'mid-March' and will cost you the princely sum of £69.99 up front and £41 a month from then on - and that's on a 24 month deal.
On the plus side you get mega speeds, movies and other assorted treats - but they may not be enough to make up for the lack of food in your life given the amounts you'll be spending.
Launch date: Mid-March
Greatest data allowance plan cost: 3GB allowance on 4G: £69.99 for phone, £41 a month
Vodafone
The red network has decided you can get this handset on a pretty good deal - if you think a free phone from £42 a month is such a thing.
The good news is that you can get this handset in BLACK rather than just boring ol' aluminium / silver - and apparently our eyes are deceiving us when we argue it looks heaps like the BlackBerry Z10.
The phone is being badged as '4G-ready' too, something that many manufacturers are doing given they're getting ready to make, you know, 4G ready.
Launch date: March 15
Greatest data allowance plan cost: 2GB of data: free phone, £42 a month
Three
Three was another early one to chat about its HTC One aspirations - dubbing it 'Ultrafast ready' rather than 4G, although that incorporates the next-gen network.
You can pre-order the phone right now, and it even comes on PAYG for £479.99 - that's if you've got that much spare change just sitting around. It comes in black on the numerical network, which is a plus if you want one to match your Batman outfit.
Launch date: March 15
Greatest data allowance plan cost: £69.99 for phone, £36 a month for the One Plan
Orange and T-Mobile
The two EE sub-brands are still fighting for customers below their EE overlord, and are offering the HTC One on some lower contracts as they look to nab those that aren't overly fussed about 4G.
It's interesting to note that neither offer a delivery date, and vary pretty dramatically in terms of cost, simply because Orange doesn't offer an unlimited plan.
Launch date: Unknown
Greatest data allowance plan cost: £29.99 for phone, £41 a month for 3GB data on Orange / £69.99 for phone, £36 a month for unlimited data on T-Mobile
O2
The bubbly network isn't going to be left out when it comes to the HTC One, but it's not going to be the cheapest if you're desperate to get your hands on the new phone with this supplier.
You do get the normal amount of treats though, such as O2 Priority, but many will see other networks as massively cheaper. And it doesn't even come with a charger - although this is a pretty eco-friendly move, and you've probably already got one.
Launch date: March 15
Greatest data allowance plan cost: £29.99 for phone, £47 a month for 4GB of data
Phones 4U
If you toddle down to one of 11 Phones4U stores now, you can be among the first in the world to have a go on the HTC One (which we already have, no big deal). You'll also be able to pre-order the handset with a few freebies for early orderers helping to sweeten the deal.
You'll be able to get the HTC One handset from Phones4U for free on a £36 per month contract on several networks from March 15. Want it in silver? Want it in black? Want it in gold? You can't get it in gold. Sorry. But there are headphones on offer as well - Dr Dre will be happy.
Launch date: March 15
Greatest data allowance plan cost: Free phone, £41 a month for 3GB of data on Orange
The Carphone Warehouse
As for Carphone Warehouse, the first 1000 people to pre-order the HTC One will get a free pair of Beats headphones, as well as being offered in black and silver.
You'll have to make like it's 1996 and call up to do that (the number is 0800 925 925), or you can hang on until March 15 when the handset will be available in-store and online.
Launch date: March 15
Greatest data allowance plan cost: Free phone, £40 a month for unlimted data on Three. (But no Beats headphones).
HTC One features
Of course, there's more to life than how much something costs - the HTC One comes with a whole host of new features that we've rounded up in a lovely and efficient manner below:
HTC One makes its debut with snap-happy Zoe on its arm
HTC's newest flagship Android phone: the HTC One has finally landed in all its aluminium uni-body, feature-packed glory. It's a good looking phone, slim with rounded corners and a premium look.
It's rocking a 4.7-inch Full HD display with a quad-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon processor on the inside. There's also 2GB of DDR2 RAM to play with and the handset will be available in 32GB and 64GB models.
It's well-documented that HTC hasn't had the best of it recently, with the profits slumping and market share down. So the HTC One is the firm's new attempt at a market-leading handset, and with an all-aluminium body, super-high-res 4.7-inch HD screen and futuristic camera technology hint that this could be something of a winner. So how does it stack up?
HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Sony Xperia Z vs iPhone 5
A few years ago, if you weren't on an iPhone or a BlackBerry, chances were you were rocking an HTC Android device with a big clock on the homescreen. But times change - and Samsung got busy with its Galaxy line, ultimately stealing the top Android spot from HTC and making HTC wince. We've compared the HTC One against the S3, the Xperia Z and the iPhone 5 to see how it fares.
Microsoft isn’t letting the fact that next generation consoles are just around the corner as evident by a new Xbox 360 bundle. The Xbox 360 250GB Spring Value Bundle is now available in the US for a limited time while supplies last at select major US retail stores, according to Microsoft’s Major Nelson.
As the name suggests, the spring bundle includes a slim Xbox 360 console with a 250GB hard drive, a wireless controller and two games: Darksiders II and Batman: Arkham City. Microsoft is including a physical retail copy of Darksiders II but you’ll need to download Batman using a supplied code. Last but not least, a free one month subscription to Xbox Live Gold is included as well.
Expect to pay $299 for the kit which is on par with similar seasonal bundles we have seen from Microsoft. A quick check with Amazon shows the bundle is temporarily out of stock which could mean one of two thing: either Amazon hasn’t received them yet or they are already all spoken for.
The spring bundle is a pretty sweet deal but when you take into account recent rumors suggesting Microsoft could show off the Xbox 720 as early as next month, one has to seriously consider if it’s worth investing in the Xbox 360 platform this late into its lifecycle. Perhaps the biggest question is whether or not Microsoft’s next generation system will be backwards compatible with today’s 360 games.
The Apple iWatch is far from confirmed but the sheer number of rumours relating to this mythical gadget have our curiosity well and truly piqued.
Since it's Friday, we pored over all the rumours, speculation and wish lists that have emerged so far and put together this 3D render to show what the device could look like.
As well as showing off the looks, we've speculated about functionality; we reckon there'll be a dinky Lightning connector port for charging as well as super-speedy data transfer.
Getting Siri-ous
We'd also be surprised if Siri didn't get involved somehow, and would expect connectivity to your iPhone so you can make and receive calls from the watch's interface as standard.
Have a butcher's at the video for yourself and let us know if you think we're spot on or hilariously wide of the mark in the comments below.
Windows 8 continued its slow but steady growth in February grabbing 2.26 percent of the operating system market share, up from 1.72 percent in December and 1.09 percent in November according to Net Applications. During the month Windows 7 also gained 0.07 percentage points after losing 0.63 percentage points in January, and it’s still the most used platform by a comfortable margin with 44.55 percent of the market.
The venerable Windows XP is second with 38.99 percent, down from 39.51 percent, while Vista continued to shed users with a 5.24 percent share. That put Windows 8 in fourth place among all operating system versions, just ahead of Mac OS X 10.8, which gained 0.17 points to 2.61 percent market share.
So how has Windows 8 fared compared to Windows 7 during its initial launch months? To put it into perspective, both versions of Windows were officially released in October of their respective years, but by the end of February 2010 Windows 7 had already seized more than 9 percent of the traffic seen by Net Applications.
There are a few considerations to take into account, such as the fact that Windows 7 superseded and improved upon an operating system release that was generally seen as a commercial failure, whereas Windows 8 marks a significant paradigm shift for Microsoft that’s bound to encounter some resistance from long time Windows users despite offering heavily discounted upgrades -- which are no longer available, by the way.
Slowing PC sales might also be playing a part in Windows 8’s sluggish adoption.
Overall market share numbers for each operating system in aggregate haven’t changed much: Windows still dominates with a whopping 91.62 percent, down 0.09 points from 91.71 percent, followed by OS X which gained just as much to grab 7.17 percent and Linux holding steady at 1.21 percent.
If you have ever spent any time in a major Chinese city, you would be under the impression that everyone is connected to the Internet in some way or another, whether through mobile phones or Internet cafe’s or home Internet. And you would be right, as the majority of Chinese do have access to Internet, but there is still (a lot) of room for growth.
For 2013, China has pledged to increase home broadband coverage by 70%. The new initiative plans to bring extra connectivity throughout China’s more rural areas and schools, and will see the erection of 180,000 new 3G base stations along with 1.3 million addition Wi-Fi hot-spots.
According to SamMobile, the Galaxy S4 will launch in two colour variants: the rather uninspiring black and white with no fancy blue option in sight.
Of course, even if the Galaxy S4 only launches in black and white, that doesn't mean a blue hue won't arrive at a later date. The Galaxy S3 picked up various additional finishes after launch including red, grey, amber and black.
Six to choose from
As well as two choices of colour, SamMobile also claims the Galaxy S4 will offer customers three different volumes of internal storage - 16GB, 32GB and 64GB - giving a total of six different combinations.
According to this report it doesn't look as though Samsung is going to try and match the huge 128GB of storage you can get in an iPhone 5, but the Galaxy SIV will more than likely have a microSD slot allowing you to build on the internal offering anyway.
We won't know for sure until the Samsung Galaxy S4 launch event, but luckily that's only two weeks away with a date set on March 14 in New York and TechRadar will be there to bring you all the news as it happens.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8: almost indistinguishable from Cheryl Cole
MWC 2013 really reminded us of Girls Aloud, the pop phenomenon that's reunited for one last tour: while the girls are officially equals, Cheryl Cole is a much bigger star than all the others combined. MWC's Cheryl was Samsung.
Samsung might not have turned up in a frighteningly tight corset and towering heels, but it managed to be part of the event while eclipsing it altogether: it showed off the Galaxy Note 8.0 and some mid-range phones such as the Galaxy Young, and then it dropped an S4-shaped bomb. "Hey everyone!" Samsung said. "We'll unveil the Galaxy S4 in a fortnight!"
In the spotlight
Samsung, like many other tech giants, has decided that it'll shine more brightly if it goes solo. Big shows such as MWC (and CES, and GDC and E3) are rather like crowded market squares, everyone competing for attention. Standalone launch events do a much better job of attracting headlines, which is why Samsung's doing the S4 launch separately, Microsoft's stopped doing CES and Sony chose to unveil the PS4 at its own event. Trade shows are increasingly being left to the mid-market players, with the big stars doing their own separate shows.
If Samsung is Cheryl Cole, that makes Sony the MWC Nadine Coyle, smiling through gritted teeth as everybody tells Samsung how talented and gorgeous it is. "The Xperia Z should be the star!" Sony probably muttered in a Northern Irish accent. "And the Xperia Tablet Z too!"
Elsewhere on the floor we had some new Nokias. The Nokia Lumia 720 "doesn't have the high end features we've come to expect from the more expensive Lumias but it does have a decent spec sheet for something that's bound to be available on next-to-nothing contracts," says Dan Grabham, while the budget Lumia 520 is "low end but not low rent". "It's not a handset for those who really want a Windows Phone, but rather it's one for those who want a budget smartphone. For that type of purchaser, the cheap and cheerful nature of the 520 will surely appeal." There's also an incredibly cheap feature phone, the fun and funky Nokia 105.
Big star
Have you ever held your phone and thought, "This is all well and good, but it's far too comfortable and portable"? If you have then there's good news from ZTE, whose Grand Memo is quite ridiculously large. The screen is a massive 5.7 inches, which makes it bigger than Sarah Harding. That means Motorola's Razr HD must be MWC's Kimberley Walsh: good-looking, perfectly lovely and completely eclipsed by more ambitious rivals. James Rivington says it's "nice".
While LG and Fujitsu had plenty of phones to show off, Huawei was the manufacturer with something kinda ooh: its Ascend P2 claims to be the world's fastest smartphone thanks to some sparkly new LTE technology and high-speed Wi-Fi.
That leaves Asus, the Nicola Roberts of this year's MWC: while everyone else was perfectly professional and, let's be honest, a little bit dull, Asus went a bit brilliantly mad. First up there was the Padfone Infinity, a tablet with a detachable phone, and then there was the Fonepad, a tablet that's also a phone.
Last but not least we had HP, a firm with a whole lotta history: according to Head of Mobility Alberto Torres, HP is going to be "a leader in the tablet space and eventually smartphones." We can't help thinking that HP's tablet adventures so far rather resemble Nadine Coyle's solo album, Insatiable, described by reviewers as "homogenised" with a "by-the-numbers approach" that lacked "the individuality to stand out in a [saturated] marketplace". Maybe we'll live to see the day when HP calls the shots once more.
BlackBerry Z10 users rejoice, the first software update for your shiny new smartphone has arrived bringing with it battery and camera joy.
Some have bemoaned the fact that the battery on the Z10 wasn't lasting a full day, but BlackBerry claims it has made more than 60 battery-saving improvements which will especially benefit power users.
The camera gets some treatment in version 10.0.10.85 of the BlackBery 10 update, as it is now optimised to perform better in low light.
App attack
The new software will also hopefully see a new influx of applications to BlackBerry World, as apparently performance has now been improved for 3rd party apps allowing them to deliver a faster and smoother experience to users.
BlackBerry has confirmed that WhatsApp will finally arrive on the handset in March, something we hoped would be available from day one after the Canadian firm made a big deal out of WhatsApp being "fully behind BB 10" during its launch event.
Things such as the phone, calendar, contacts and browser have also been given a tweak by BlackBerry and the 150MB download is available over the air (OTA).
We checked for the new software on our BlackBerry Z10 but it currently wasn't showing up. These things tend to take a couple of weeks to hit every handset, so you may need to be patient.
Corning, the company that makes Gorilla Glass, doesn't think that phone makers will be able to take advantage of flexible screens for at least three more years.
Gorilla Glass is a robust screen material already found in handsets ranging from iPhones to the Samsung Galaxy S3 and beyond.
Not content with strength, Corning has also gone after bend-ability with its latest iteration, known as Willow, which is a glass that can be bent and rolled up like newspaper.
Flexiglass
But therein lies the problem, according to Corning president James Clappin.
"People are not accustomed to glass you roll up, " he said in an interview with Bloomberg. "The ability of people to take it and use it to make a product is limited."
That doesn't mean a three-year wait before we see any Willow-toting products; rather that some simple gadgets may start using it (solar panels, for example) before it makes its way to the complex computational beast you keep in your pocket.
