Jolla's been toolin' for a phone over which you'll be droolin' (credit: IBTimes)
Most smartphone owners are looking forward to Android Key Lime Pie or Apple iOS 7, but Finish phone developer Jolla is promising an OS lovefest on May 20.
"We are super excited to welcome you to hear about Jolla's next steps and get a sneak preview of what is yet to come," read the invite sent to various press outlets today.
The "Love Day" invitation isn't a belated Valentine's Day card that's three months old, but widely believed to be a summons to check out the company's first smartphone ten days from now.
Jolla, a start-up that consists ex-Nokia employees, has said that it's preparing a phone running its newly unveiled Sailfish operating system in the month of May.
Here MeeGo!
May 20 will be an opportunity for Sailfish to prove Nokia wrong after it had abandoned the MeeGo operating system that accompanied the Nokia N9 smartphone.
Jolla picked up where Nokia left off and intends to turn the Linux-based mobile operating system into an iOS and Android competitor.
The invitation doesn't hint at what Jolla's first smartphone will look like, but has said that the device will have a "modern Scandinavian design," according to Jolla Chairman Antti Saarnio.
That's a step in the right direction for Jolla's MeeGo successor, as something radically new would help it stand out in a marketplace where Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry 10 are fighting for third place.
Think the Samsung Galaxy S4 is pretty great? Things are only getting started, as several variants could be one their way in the near future. The newest of these rumored devices is the Galaxy S4 Zoom.
It is a variant of the yet to be released S4 Mini, but this handset’s special niche is the fact is will boast a 16 MP rear facing camera, with 10x optical zoom. I’ll give you a minute to re-read that, yes 10x optical zoom. That blows the Nokia 808 PureView’s miniscule 3x zoom out of the water. According to Unwired View, this variant arrived for certification at the Bluetooth SIG this week under the model number SM-C101.
Samsung is making a run at a majority market share with all its variations of their Galaxy S4s (at least if rumors are to be believed). They have brought to the table the mini for those that don’t want such a large screen. Also a variant that is similar to the Xperia Z, made to be rugged and withstand the worst conditions that can be thrown at you, and now the S4 Zoom which will have amateur shutterbugs doing backflips at the possibility.
Thus far optical zoom was really the only thing traditional cameras had over the previously limited point and shoot cameras in mobile phones. This will pave the way for a new standard in mobile phone cameras if it takes off like I’m sure it will.
This variation is rumored to land soon, maybe even as early as June according to some of the circulating rumors. Keep your eyes open for more info on this handset. It will surely be a hit with users serious about photography and those casual snappers alike. What do you think about the Zoom? Is this a technology that you would like to see on your phone, or should it be left to the handheld camera market?
Facebook Home isn't doing so bad, but the HTC First may be another story
AT&T will discontinue sales of the HTC First, sending all remaining stock back to HTC, due to extremely poor sales of the Facebook Home device, a report this morning claimed.
As of last week, the HTC First had sold just 15,000 since its debut on April 12, according to BGR.
According to BGR's sources, that price cut is just a final effort on AT&T's part to ditch as many of the devices as possible before shipping the rest back to HTC once a contract between AT&T and HTC for in-store displays expires.
A social experiment
The HTC First is the only phone to come pre-loaded with Facebook's Android UI overlay Facebook Home.
The ill-fated HTC device was unveiled on stage by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in early April.
Facebook Home itself was nearing 1 million users as of last week, according to figures released by the social network.
Neither HTC nor AT&T will discuss the HTC First's sales performance, though an AT&T store sales representative told TechRadar last week that "people don't seem to want that phone as much."
We asked both companies to comment on this latest report. AT&T informed us that they "don't comment on the results of individual manufacturer device sales," and HTC has so far not replied.
Developers will start pouring into the annual Google I/O conference on Wednesday, but those wondering if the company's Motorola Mobility division could have something new to offer won't have to wait so long.
Android Guys today reported that an unannounced Motorola XT1058 smartphone turned up at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently.
Judging from the FCC ID Label and Location document included as part of the filing, the handset bears a striking resemblance to the so-called "X Phone" which has been making the rounds in recent months.
The XT1058 model number matches a number of humorous handset codenames for Motorola's next device, which include Yeti, Ghost and Sasquatch.
Although FCC documents don't currently include telltale photographs of the rumored "XFON," the docs do reveal AT&T 4G LTE-compatible antennas, squashing hopes the handset might be part of a new Droid lineup at rival Verizon Wireless.
Beyond the carrier bands and a sketch of the rear casing with FCC "CE0168" approval label, the report claims that an NFC chip and possibly even stock Android 4.2 appear to be in the cards.
Unfortunately, we will probably have to wait a few more weeks before laying eyes on the elusive X Phone. Hopefully it's worth the wait.
When it comes to Windows Phone there's a new player in the starting line up in the form of Windows Phone 8 – Microsoft's latest attempt to make a significant dent in the mobile market.
While Android and iOS lead the way when it comes to mobile operating systems, you can draw many similarities between the two which may leave you feeling like you want some new. A fresh start, a new perspective.
That's exactly what Windows Phone 8 offers with a completely new way of providing you with your smartphone fill.
We've taken the time to go through all the Windows Phone devices available to pick out the best ones around and while there's some serious Nokia dominance in this list a handful of other manufacturers are also getting in on the action.
1. Nokia Lumia 520
Usually the number one place in our top lists is claimed by a powerful, flagship smartphone but as you can see here that's not always the case will the incredibly affordable Lumia 520 grabbing the "Best Windows phone" title.
While it may not have a ridiculous amount of power, super sized screen or market leading camera, what the Lumia 520 does offer is the perfect smartphone experience on a budget.
It's got a decent spec sheet for such a keenly priced device with a 1GHz dual-core processor, 4-inch display, 5MP camera and micro SD card slot to make up for a small internal storage.
In may not have a front facing snapper or fancy NFC technology, plus the battery life could better, but for the money you'll be hard pressed to get something better than the Lumia 520.
All in all it's cheap and extremely cheerful and if you want to try Windows Phone 8 but don't want a handset which will break the bank, or your pocket then the Nokia Lumia 520 is the one you should plump for.
What's better than a top Windows Phone 7 handset? A Windows Phone 8 one, and we've got no qualms about telling you the Lumia 920 is one of the best Windows Phone out there.
Simplicity is the key here, the Lumia 920 does the basics well, from contact integration and calling, to web browsing and messaging – oh and it's 4G enabled.
The 8MP camera on the back of the Lumia 920 is one of the best we've used and for anyone looking to get a top end cameraphone you need to seriously consider this Nokia.
The 4.5-inch display is also a good'un, crisp and clear it makes watching movies, surfing the web or Facebook stalking an enjoyable experience, thanks to the PureMotion HD technology on offer.
It's major flaw though is its size, so if you've got delicate hands you may want to side step the weighty Lumia 920 for something a little more manageable - perhaps take a look at the HTC 8X.
Oh and you can even use it with gloves on... what more could you want? You're right: holograms. But they don't exist yet.
If you're pockets aren't so deep, or your hands are a little smaller, you may want to take a look at the Nokia Lumia 820, which still provides you with the full Windows Phone 8 experience, albeit on a slightly smaller screen.
The 4.3-inch AMOLED display is still a strong performer, while the camera comes with the Nokia class that we've come to expect.
It still has the fancy tricks of Lumia 920, including wireless charging, 4G, NFC connectivity, but it also brings changeable covers so your phone can reflect your mood – exciting times.
There aren't any giant flaws with the Nokia Lumia 820, and while there may be a couple of minor niggles they certainly don't get in the way.
The Samsung Ativ S is one of the unsung heroes of the Windows Phone 8 brigade, a handset which hasn't been thrust into the limelight and while it may be a little tricky to get hold of you won't be disappointed.
Sporting a similar design to its Android toting brother the Samsung Galaxy S3 the Korean firm works on its winning design formula and breaks away from the styles employed by the likes of Nokia, HTC and Huawei.
It's also so light and slim. Given the size of the handset, the weight and dimensions genuinely surprised us when we picked one up.
With a 4.8-inch display it's already the sort of phone that may poke out of your pocket, so the skinny design is much appreciated.
A removable battery and miroSD card slot are welcome bonuses and helps set the Ativ S apart from the rest of the Windows Phone 8 crowd.
Bit fuzzy, evleaks - not quite up to your usual standards (credit: @evleaks)
The Nokia Lumia 925 is poised to launch at an event in London tomorrow but a photo of the handset has broken free of its corporate shackles and made its way on to Twitter.
Previously known as the Nokia Catwalk, the Finns previewed the handset in an ad on British television yesterday evening, promising big things from the phone's camera.
Today's image, which was posted by the scourge of the mobile industry @evleaks, shows a marketing shot of the handset, with the redesigned aluminum housing on show.
Monocles on
We can see a headphone jack on top of the handset, volume sliders and possibly a camera shutter button on the edge and a front-facing camera all on board.
What we can't see much of is that aluminum chassis as the screen runs almost to the edge of the handset.
Not much more to be gleaned from the photos of the Windows Phone 8 handset, although previous leaks have suggested that we'll see a thinner, lighter handset than its predecessor, the Nokia Lumia 920.
Other rumoured specs are pretty similar though; they include a 4.5-inch OLED display, dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of memory and an 8.7MP camera.
We'll be live at Nokia's big launch event tomorrow (Tuesday) so stay tuned for the official specs as they break, and our hands on Nokia Lumia 925 review just as soon as Nokia lets us at the thing.
Well ain't that a Key Lime Pie in the face (credit: Homini on Flickr - used under Creative Commons license)
Sundar Pichai, Google's new head of Android, has said that this year's Google IO will be heavy on the dev love, light on new launches - which means no slices of Key Lime Pie.
Speaking to Wired, he explained that this year is "going to be different".
When asked what we should expect from IO this year, he said, "It's not a time when we have much in the way of launches of new products or a new operating system."
Oh. Oh well maybe he just means on Chrome OS, right guys? Keep the faith?
Er...
Nope: "Both on Android and Chrome, we're going to focus this IO on all the kinds of things we're doing for developers so that they can write better things. We will show how Google services are doing amazing things on top of these two platforms." Oh.
While Pichai hasn't completely obliterated all hope of these things, we aren't going to hold our breath. The Android head did talk a little about what future hardware we can expect from Google, saying that we'll see "a continuation of what we have tried to do with Nexus and Chromebooks".
"Any hardware projects we do will be to push the ecosystem forward," he added - so no launches just for the sake of it then.
We'll be out at Google IO in force bringing you all the news from Google's annual developer soiree - it all kicks off on Wednesday (May 15) so stay tuned.
If you loved Street Fighter then you'll love these
Sometimes it takes a sequel to fully develop and establish a great concept. The original Street Fighter - released by Capcom in 1987 in arcades and on myriad home platforms - included eventually iconic series elements such as the six-button control layout, familiar special movies, and leads Ryu and Ken.
However, the simplistic one-on-one fighter barely made a blip among players at the time. When the series returned in 1991 with Street Fighter II, with its larger cast of playable characters, tighter matches, and improved visuals, it started a something of a craze that made the fighting genre one of the most popular in all of gaming.
In the two-plus decades since, Street Fighter has gone on to spawn a number of sequels, variations and crossovers with other properties, not to mention an incredible array of imitators and worthwhile competitors - and the App Store offers many of the top genre entries.
Luckily, you don't have to look very far to find the game that kick-started the fighting phenomenon in all its arcade glory. Street Fighter II Collection (£2.49, iPhone) is the ideal starting point for the franchise, since the app includes three different versions of the title, each with slight variations in look, feel, and even roster.
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior is the original 1991 release, while the Champion Edition makes the boss characters playable and allows multiple players to choose the same fighter, while the Hyper Fighting version amplifies the gameplay speed and adds new moves and fighter colour palettes.
Aside from the inherent differences between them, all three titles control similarly, using a virtual stick and buttons with customisable placement and transparency, and all include local Bluetooth multiplayer battles. For those who expect to relive their quarter-munching memories with regularity, or plan on taking part in two-player showdowns, the Collection app fits the bill.
More casual fighting fans, on the other hand, might do well with Capcom Arcade (Free, iPhone) instead. Capcom Arcade includes the same three versions of Street Fighter II - along with excellent gem-matching spin-off Super Puzzle Fighter II, Final Fight, and seven other oldies - which can be purchased individually within or played by buying tokens using real money. However, the Capcom Arcade entries lack multiplayer support, making them strictly for solo players. If you plan on playing often, grab the Collection instead.
While the basics of the Street Fighter II experience continue to inform each and every new entry, the series has evolved significantly since. Case in point: Street Fighter IV Volt (£2.99, iPhone) is the latest iOS take on the core series, and it wholly replaces the previous Street Fighter IV release for iPhone by including improved 3D character models, a much larger roster (22 fighters in total), and even online play. It's easily the largest and most robust series entry on the App Store, plus you can set it so that online players can jump in when you're playing solo, much like at an arcade.
Street Fighter X Tekken Mobile (69p, Universal) is the newest twist on the formula, pairing familiar franchise characters with those from the rival Tekken series for a tag-team affair. It's short on characters compared to Volt, but plays similarly - aside from the tagging mechanic; plus it works natively on iPad and still includes online play.
And if you're up for something different, or merely want a taste of how the crossover plays before buying, snag Street Fighter X Tekken Gauntlet (Free, Universal). It strips down the overall experience and tasks you with surviving against an endless succession of opponents.
But Street Fighter experimented with collaborative crossovers before its dalliance with Tekken. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (£2.99, Universal) pairs Street Fighter greats with other Capcom game favourites in three-person tag-team battles against Marvel Comics heroes and villains alike. The iOS port is sadly a bit dodgy, with controls that can't keep up with the intense speed and clunky menus, but with dozens of fighters and chaotic combat like nothing else on the market, fans of either the superheroes or the game characters will find the game difficult to resist.
It's not hard to find a Street Fighter to meet your needs on the App Store, but a few options exist for those seeking something outside of that family. The King of Fighters-i 2012 (£4.99, iPhone) strongly challenges Volt as the best 2D fighter on the App Store, with similarly slick character models and animations, albeit with both one-on-one and three-on-three battles. Packed with a total of 32 fighters, plus online play and bonus Challenge and Time Attack modes, it's arguably the largest and longest-lasting fighter for the iPhone.
Another long-time rival franchise appears in the form of Virtua Fighter 2 (£1.49, iPhone), but unlike the most notable entries in the series - which helped popularise 3D fighting, making Street Fighter and its ilk seem outdated for a time - this pixel-based version isn't in 3D. It's actually based on an older Sega Genesis port from 1996, and while lacking pop as a result, it still offers a taste of the franchise, which highlights over flashy special moves.
But if you're interested in a real 3D fighter, you'll find one of the best of all time in the form of Soul Calibur (£10.49, Universal). Based on the Sega Dreamcast classic, the weapons-based brawler features crisp visuals, sparkling and fluid combat, and solidly responsive touch controls, not to mention a total of 19 fighters.
However, that level of quality comes at an extreme price, which might be difficult to stomach for casual fighting fans. If it's too dear for you, consider Blades of Fury (£2.99, iPhone), a solid knockoff that also features optionally simplified controls for iPhone and iPod touch.
Whether you're up for a retro classic or a modern take, a good old battle of fisticuffs or something with a bit of slicing and dicing, the fighting game is alive and well on the App Store - plus you won't need a pocket full of coins to play most of them. Let the fighting commence!
Considering we don’t have a shred of proof that the “X Phone” is anything special, there sure is a lot of gossip and speculation about the Google/Motorola device. The latest gossip surrounding Motorola (and potentially the X Phone) is that a new handset has been spotted in an FCC filing, the Motorola XT1058, featuring AT&T bands and NFC technology.
Previous rumors indicate that the XT1058 would be the model name of AT&T’s version of the X Phone, and now the above image gives us a better idea of what the back of the handset might look like.
Let’s be honest, this is just a rumor – so take it with a grain of salt. It seems more and more likely with each passing day that Motorola is truly working on some new handsets that will blow us away, but again, until Motorola or Google confirms it, we shouldn’t get too carried away.
Here’s to hoping we learn more at Google I/O. What do you think of the rumored Motorola X Phone? Based on the little we think we know, are you excited about it or not?
Forget 4G. While many still don't have access to the high-speed mobile network, Samsung claims to have made a breakthrough into the next generation of 5G.
The mmWave Mobile Technology is the next step in network speed, which will provide data transmissions of up to several hundred times faster than 4G, with the ability to download up to tens of gigabits per second when it arrives.
"Subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide range of services such as 3D movies and games, real-time streaming of ultra high-definition (UHD) content, and remote medical services," said Samsung today.
Unfortunately we're a few years off seeing the service being available for the commercial market though, which Samsung says will happen by 2020.
Meanwhile, TechRadar begins research into 6G
It's likely that we'll see shift to 4.5G some time before then, so data hogs will at least have that to look forward to.
But Samsung's innovation is a huge leap forward given until now it's been believed that high-frequency wavebands required for 5G weren't suitable for long-range mobile communications.
"Samsung's latest innovation is expected to invigorate research into 5G cellular communications across the world," said Samsung today.
"The company believes it will trigger the creation of international alliances and the timely commercialisation of related mobile broadband services."
The Samsung Galaxy S4 will soon come in a new colour option dubbed Blue Arctic, also known as blue.
The handset is already available in Black Mist (black) and White Frost (white), but it looks as though the Blue Arctic variant will be launching in Japan on May 15, with other countries hopefully set to follow suit.
Sony has introduced the Xperia ZR, built with up to 1.5 meters of water resistance for snapping photo and video in those submerged situations.
To make sure those underwater snaps are both taken and viewed in decent quality, the phone comes with a 13 megapixel fast capture camera and 4.6-inch HD Reality display with the same Mobile Bravia Engine 2 tech of the Xperia Z. However, the panel is just a 720p.
You'll be able to keep the phone submerged in water for up to 30 minutes at 1.5 meters, although this is only good for fresh water situations - no taking it out into the big blue, we're afraid. On the plus, the dedicated camera button is a big pro that was missed on the Z.
Under the sea....well, pool
As for the engine, the ZR holds a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quadcore 1.5 GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 4G LTE and NFC support.
The screen, meanwhile, offers a "prediction filter" which aims to, yup, predict where you're finger is going when you're scrolling around the display.
The dimensions make it slightly smaller than the Xperia Z, while the phone is also dust-proof, meaning it will be an appealing buy for many of the intrepid adventurers out there.
Sony's not saying anything on price just yet, but has confirmed that the phone will launch "in various global" markets starting quarter 2 of this year.
