Are Liquidmetal bodies the next big thing in smartphone design? A rumour on Tuesday suggested HTC is looking for a leap on the competition and may launch a smartphone with the tech as soon as this year.
A report from the sometimes hit-and-miss and Digitimes website claimed HTC has teamed up with Taiwanese compatriot and chassis-maker Jabon International to produce the super-strong alloy.
The report claimed HTC could unleash the first Liquidmetal phone, which would likely be stronger and more scratch-proof than current models at somepoint during the second half of the year.
If the rumour, which is to be taken with a pinch, nay, a grain of salt, comes to fruition, HTC would join Apple in the Liquidmetal game.
HTC vs iPhone?
Naturally, Apple is also exploring the tech, potentially for new iPhone models.
Find out what screen will burn my retinas, and then back it off a little bit
It remains unclear as to whether the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 will be the name of Apple's next iPhone, but rumors suggest its screen will be extremely clear with double the pixel count.
That means the iPhone 5S display could reach a total of 1.5 million pixels, according to the Chinese-language Wei Feng Network.
This would be a vast improvement over the 727,040 pixels found in the current iPhone 5 Retina display, which stands at 640 x 1,136 resolution and 326 pixels per inch.
It would also keep Apple from trailing competitors like Samsung, which recently launched its Galaxy S4 smartphone containing a 1920 x 1080 resolution and 441 ppi.
The iPhone 5S is also said to be taking some design tips from the iPad mini by adopting a much narrower bezel around the screen like its tablet counterpart.
While the all-important iPhone 5S release date and price haven't been confirmed, previous reports suggest that the Apple's 2013 iPhone will enter mass production in June and launch in September.
The iPhone 5S launch should be accompanied by the company's next mobile operating system, the iOS 7, and what's expected to be a flat, skeuomorphic-free design.
While the battle for which company has the better smartphone often devolves into a mere spec war, sometimes it's the simplest features that can help a phone stand out from the competition.
Even though Apple may be outgunned by other manufacturers like HTC and Samsung when it comes to screens, cameras, or raw power, the Cupertino company has arguably always had a leg up on the ease of use over its competitors.
Now, Apple is potentially readying a new feature which could make using the iPhone 5S easier and intuitive for its users.
With its latest patent, Apple has created a way for the iPhone to automatically adjust its volume based on the device's proximity to a user's ear.
Hear, hear
According to Apple Insider, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted Apple the patent for "Adjustment of acoustic properties based on proximity detection."
Using a variety of sensors in the phone, the software would adjust the volume on the call accordingly based on which of the sensors was covered up or exposed.
As long as a distance could be calculated by the device, both the receiver and speaker volume could be configured with no input from the user.
Additionally, the patent works while the phone is already in use, and could switch the phone from the receiver to the speaker should a person set the phone down during a conversation.
Though the patent doesn't explicitly state when or where Apple might use such a feature, the hardware already exists, so it's entirely possible such an update could come to older iPhones as well as future devices.
Curiously, the patent's approval comes just a short time after the U.S. International Trade Commision (ITC) threw out a sensor-related patent complaint levied by Motorola against Apple.
Now that Apple appears to be free and clear, we could see this patent put to use sooner rather than later.
So which one will we see first the iPhone 5S or the iPhone 6? Read our coverage of all the latest news and rumors to see which one Cupertino will release.
The fronts of our smartphones have been protected witih Gorilla Glass for some time now, but the backs are still prone to bumps and bruises and scratches. We want our phones to be tougher, but we don’t want them to be any bulkier. HTC just might beat Apple to the punch, because there are rumors that HTC may have “several” smartphones made of Liquidmetal before year’s end.
Up until now, the material has only really been used in ultra luxury Vertu phones, so this could be the first time that Liquidmetal is implemented in a more regular consumer-level smartphone. We thought that Apple had the exclusive rights, but I guess that’s not really the case. If the rumor holds true and HTC releases a Liquidmetal smartphone in the second half of this year, it could mean that when and if Apple does the same, it won’t have the same kind of “revolutionary” impact.
Liquidmetal, made by a company appropriately called Liquidmetal Technologies, is said to be as smooth as liquid, but it’s also twice as strong as titanium. What this means is that it is practically indestructible, in terms of day to day use, and it’s also very resistant to scratches, hits and corrosion. This may prove costly, so either HTC will have to cut costs elsewhere or raise the price of its devices.
The recent release of the HTC One demonstrates that this company still has a lot of promise, but it still doesn’t have the sales to compete against the likes of Samsung and Apple. Is Liquidmetal their ace in the hole? We’ll find out soon enough!
LG isn't about to take Samsung's current domination of Android lying down, laying out plans for new tablets and a synchronized worldwide rollout for the Optimus G2.
PhoneArena reported Tuesday that new details have been revealed for LG's product lineup, which includes plans for a return to Android tablets by year's end.
In an interview with Dutch website AllAboutPhone, LG Mobile Vice-President for Europe Wong Kim followed up news of a white Nexus 4 and its forthcoming tablet ambitions by announcing the company plans to roll out its next flagship handset everywhere at once.
Kim also revealed LG plans to introduce a phone powered by something other than Android this year - presumably Firefox OS, since Mozilla lists the Korean manufacturer as one of its partners.
Kim claims "the technology for this is not yet mature enough," while the L9 chipset which powers existing LG televisions also appears to be off the table for mobile devices for now.
That may leave LG treading water for most of the year, but its European VP teased that the best is yet to come thanks to a bigger marketing push and new devices arriving before the calendar rolls over to 2014.
Google's Nexus (ten points to anyone who can tell us if Nexi is the correct plural) smartphones have always set the standard when it comes to a pure Google experience.
The first Nexus One was a true geek device. Sold only through Google directly (apart from a brief flirtation with Vodafone), it never achieved massive sales. But it gave the world the true raw power of Android without the bloatware of other variants. As of January 2010, the ball was well and truly rolling.
We've had several now – and everyone, it seems, had a go: HTC, Samsung, Asus and LG – though strangely, not Motorola, which is now part of Google itself.
Some handsets we look forward to with much anticipation – only to feel deflated when we actually use them. Others, we wait for with little expectation – and they absolutely blow our socks off.
A stealth surprise. We'll lay our proverbial cards on the table here from the outset. The Nexus 4 is one of those rare devices.
LG's not had the best track record of late. Sure, we thought the Optimus 4X HD was a pretty decent offering, but too little, too late compared to what was already out there by the time LG got it to market.
And whereas LG did have good form when it came to innovation back in the day (who remembers the Chocolate, the Shine – and even the dubious widescreen BL40?), the mojo seemed to have passed.
That's not a dig at the South Koreans – far from it. But just to set the scene to show why we weren't expecting much from the Nexus 4.
Perhaps the worst kept secret since the iPhone 5, the Nexus 4 even got left in a bar in true cliché style. And from the pictures, we weren't alone in thinking it looked like a copy of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
The difference is, when we took the Samsung model out of its box this time last year, we thought it was nice. When we took the Nexus 4 out of its box last week, we thought it was beautiful.
Size wise, the Nexus 4 comes in at 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm – which means it is similar to its predecessor. But it is far more stunning to look at and hold.
The front is all glass in piano black. Extra tough too thanks to the Corning Gorilla Glass 2. Think iPhone 4S territory, but just a little nicer looking (we are aware that is a matter of opinion, iFans!)
The whole front is set within a dull chrome bezel and the shininess even extends to the rear of the handset, which has an attractive, though unusual sparkly pattern adorning it - although newer shipments seem to be shorn of that element now.
Think the glittery kind of jacket that you could see Cilla Black, Joan Rivers or Shirley Bassey in at an awards ceremony, and you catch our drift.
Since launch LG has updated the design very slightly on the rear of the Nexus 4, with newer handsets sporting two tiny bumps at the bottom of the phone, which elevates the handset slightly.
This means sound isn't as distorted when played through the rear speaker, plus it stops the shiny glass back of the Nexus 4 scratching on the surface it's sitting on.
At 139g, the Nexus 4 isn't the lightest handset in school – but it's just about solid enough to get away with carrying that extra weight and puts those who say Android devices look like toys firmly in their place.
The screen is invisible when off – but when it lights up, you're treated to 4.7-inches of True HD IPS Plus beauty. That's 768 x 1280 pixels with a pixel density of 318. It is razor sharp – blowing Retina out of the water and we'll venture it is one of the best we've seen on a handset.
Another reason for this is because there is such little space between the glass and the display. So where we berated the Optimus 4X HD for leaving enough room here to park a small car, the Nexus 4 leaves no gap at all.
It exudes a clarity that has to be seen to be believed. Colours look beautiful, icons and text are razor sharp and everything floats perfectly.
We find it hard to see how this could be beaten. When you're looking at icons on a black background (like in the app drawer), you can't even see the black, if that makes sense. It is so deep, that icons just float. Beneath the screen, in the centre, but hidden until needed, lies a pulsating notification light.
Another element worth pointing out here is the way the phone curves at the sides, from the main panel into the bezel. It seems to make the screen look even more realistic and beautiful. It's one of those things you really have to experience to appreciate.
Round the edges, you'll find the usual adornments. A 3.5mm headphone jack on top, volume rocker and micro SIM tray on the left, micro USB port plus a few dubious screws on the bottom, and a perfectly placed lock/unlock/power button on the upper right hand side.
It's just in that sweet spot where it's easy to press with the thumb if you're right handed and not impossible if you're a leftie.
There's no way of getting the back off – so you know what that means, peeps. No removable battery and no expandable storage. The former doesn't faze us too much since the 2,100mAh battery pack is no slouch but the lack of memory card allowance is annoying.
Yes, we know that ever since the Nexus S, expandable memory is out. Google's said that it doesn't offer it because it's confusing. But for those with lots of content who can't or don't want to stream, it's a real pain. We don't quite buy Google's argument.
As for the innards, LG has cut no corners here. Make no mistake, this is a premium handset. DC-HSDPA, the very latest iteration of Jelly Bean 4.2, a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, quad-core 1.5GHz processor, A-GPS with GLONASS, NFC and so forth.
But what makes this so sweet is the price. Let's just point out that sim-free, a HTC One X with similar specs will set you back around £320 (around $490/AU$475) and the Samsung Galaxy S3 can now be snapped up for £329 (around $525/AU$503).
And while last year's Galaxy Nexus will leave your wallet £299 (around $477/AU$458) lighter, this brand new model, the Nexus 4 is priced – almost unbelievably – at £239 ($299/AU$349) for the 8GB version and £279 ($349/AU$480) for 16GB. Yes, the newer Nexus is cheaper than the year old Nexus. Word!
We can't overestimate just how revolutionary this is and it leaves us open-mouthed at how Google is doing this. Either it's selling the Nexus 4 at a loss – or the mark-up on handsets is now shown up as being ridiculously high. Whichever it is, it means the Nexus 4 has a distinct advantage over the competition.
Bizarrely, in the UK Google promised O2 that it can sell the Nexus 4 as an exclusive for the first month. We can't understand why – especially because you could end up paying £800 for the device over the course of the contract, but there are loads of these all over Google Play Store these days.
Virgin Mobile has also joined the Nexus 4 brigade by offering LG's handset on a contract - but with prices starting at £31 a month, it's not going to be a decent way to get a cheap Google phone in your hand.
Most people with sense (and a bit of spare cash) will buy the Nexus SIM-free and get themselves a cheap as chips SIM-only plan. The only downside is that LG has been a little slow on actually making these devices, despite Google subsidising the cost of the handset to the tune of hundreds of pounds per device.
HTC hasn't had a big stake in the large-screen market, but that might all be about to change with more leaky information suggesting that the company is about to unleash a new phablet handset.
The infamous evleaks tipped off Twitter that the upcoming phablet "goes by codename T6", which was then backed up by a Linux string discovered by HTCSoku, listing a certain T6 device.
If this code is to be believed, the new device will come in various forms. This includes Cassiopeia, Columba, Delphinus, Crater and Eridanus. Extra points for noticing these are constellations.
T6: Rise of the One
The T6 also had a couple of variations for different carrier networks, covering GSM, CDMA and LTE options which suggests a wide release on a variety of markets is in store.
Previous rumours have suggested that a large version of the HTC One is on its way, with a screen between five and six inches. It seems that this new phablet could be that very device.
As for when we might see the HTC One tablet surface from the depths of the rumour netherworld, your guess is as good as ours right now.
A new leak, coming to us courtesy of HTCSoku, is suggesting the existence of an upcoming Android phablet from HTC. Said to be codenamed as the HTC T6, the device has been discovered in a Linux string as you can see below.
The T6 seems to be coming in a few variants – Cassiopeia, Columba, Delphinus, Crater, and Eridanus – which will be aimed at a wide range of wireless networks around the world.
Rumors are suggesting that the device will be equipped with a display between 5 and 6 inches, and that 6 in the codename has fuelled suspicions that it will come with a 6 inch screen. But we believe it’s probably going to be a 5.5 incher. The codename will likely won’t have anything to do with the screen size as proven by the HTC M7 (One).
There haven’t been any hints regarding other specs, but there is talk that it might arrive with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 or the 800 and running Jelly Bean. Maybe this device will end up on Verizon as a successor to the Droid DNA. It might be unveiled sometime in the near future and could go against the Samsung Galaxy Note III which is expected to be shown off by Samsung at their event in London, scheduled to happen on June 20th.
There has been talk of a white Nexus 4 for a while now, but now it’s official. The company has announced that the white version will make its way to Hong Kong at the end of this month, and will roll out to other countries in Asia, Europe and North America over the next several weeks.
So what’s new besides the color? Even though rumors claimed we might see a spec boost, or even the addition of LTE support, no such luck.
The white Nexus 4 is EXACTLY the same as the black model, with the exception of a white back. In fact, even the front is still black, which has been met with mixed reception, depending on who you ask.
For those that need a brief refresher on the Nexus 4′s specs, it has a 4.7-inch 720p display, a Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 8MP camera, 2GB RAM and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.
As for the price? More than likely it will keep the same pricing as the original black Nexus 4, $299 for 8GB or 16GB for $349. Though here’s to hoping that Google will introduce a price cut in time for the new color variant. Probably not going to happen, but we can dream, right?
Despite Samsung's obvious attempts to keep everything under wraps, it's no secret that the Galaxy Note 3 is very much on its way, and now some sources have let slip a few more details – including a few camera enhancements we can allegedly expect.
The third generation Note will pack a 13-megapixel camera with an anti-shake feature, according to the "industry insiders" cited by ETNews.
The elusive inside agents also claimed that Samsung is working to bring optical image stabilisation tech to the next phablet, putting it up against traditional cameras.
Samsung is also said to be considering a 3x zoom optical zoom for the device, but has concerns that including one would add considerable bulk to the phone.
Note this down
Interestingly, this might be the first time Samsung has acknowledged the device's existence. An official from Samsung Electronics allegedly told ETNews said, "we are pondering various technologies at this stage - for example, OIS and shutter functions," but added that nothing could be confirmed.
The inside source, meanwhile, said that no final decisions regarding the camera had been made, but we'd expect that something will be firmed soon. After all, we're expecting a reveal at IFA 2013 - and that's just four months away.
We've contacted Samsung for further comment and will update if we hear more.
LG might not be the biggest ship sailing in the mobile devices sea, but it has certainly found success recently with devices like the Nexus 4. Wondering what’s next for the Korean-based electronics company? LG Mobile’s European VP Kim Wong has just spilled the beans on quite a bit of the company’s plans going forward.
It seems that Wong wasn’t afraid to speak out in a recent interview with Dutch site, All About Phones. First, the LG VP made it clear that even though the Nexus 4 was a big deal for the company, they aren’t currently working on a Nexus 5, though LG says they wouldn’t turn down the opportunity if offered. So that means that the rumors of an LG Nexus 5 in the works are just that – rumors.
Furthermore, Wong indicates that they have no interest in following Samsung’s strategy of releasing their flagship device with a “Nexus Experience”, as seen in the so-called Google Edition of the Galaxy S4.
Instead, Wong reveals that the company is more focused on getting back into the Android tablet game. It’s been a year since we’ve seen a tablet from LG, but according to Wong, LG is “investing in tablets” and will be bringing something new to the market soon.
Last but least, Wong highlighted the company’s plans to diversify beyond Android in the future.
Moving beyond Google’s Android
So what does that mean for LG and for Google? It means that the company isn’t interested in ditching Android, but – like Samsung – feels that it is best not to put all its eggs in one basket.
If you are wondering if that means LG is working on their OS, or planning something with Web OS, the answer seems to be no. Wong says that they don’t have plans to develop their own OS. He wasn’t able to reveal which platforms they hope to put added focus on, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if they were considering a stronger commitment to the upcoming Firefox OS, or maybe even Ubuntu or Tizen.
Again, don’t expect these to become primary focuses for LG, just an alternate path and sort of a “plan B”. What we do know is that LG seems intent on becoming a more important player in the mobile market, and in order to do that seems to be taking quite a few cues from its rival, Samsung.
What do you think of LG’s recent efforts in the mobile world? How does the company compare to smartphone/tablet rivals like Sony, Samsung, HTC and Apple?
The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini is pretty much nailed to arrive in the next month or so, but Samsung may also be planning a bigger Galaxy S4 to show up with the smaller version.
A render has made its way onto the interweb and apparently shows the Samsung Galaxy S4 flanked by what looks like the S4 mini and another, larger handset going by the name Samsung Galaxy S4 Mega.
Dutch site MobiLeaks posted the render claiming it reveals the Galaxy S4 Mega device, although we're not overly convinced that the unnamed tipster who provided the image isn't trying to pull a fast one with this artist's impression.
Time to take Note
The site claims that the larger handset sports a screen somewhere around the 6-inch mark, which would place it firmly between Samsung's latest giant phones, the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3.
Of course this third device might actually be the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3 which has been heavily tipped for release during IFA 2013 in Berlin towards the start of September.
We could potentially see this new, bigger S4 at Samsung's June 20 event in London where the Galaxy S4 mini is thought to be headlining - and TechRadar will be in attendance to bring you all the latest from the Korean firm's camp.
Despite the general belief that LG Mobile will continue its relationship with Google by building the Nexus 5, the company's European VP has said that this isn't the case.
During a discussion, Kim Wong said that he doesn't believe the company will be building the next Nexus iteration, saying that LG "does not need such a marketing success again".
Oddly, this contradicts a report by The Korea Times earlier this month that LG was working on "another Nexus-branded Google Android smartphone," though of course this could just have been referring to the white Nexus 4, which has just been announced.
As to whether LG would do a Samsung by releasing its own Google-edition phone, Wong said that doing so "has no added value for us without our own skins".
Who's the next contender?
Whether any of this is down to the supply issues that plagued the launch of the Nexus 4, and resulted in both LG and Google blaming one another, is unknown.
However LG has added that even though it is not working on a Nexus 5, it would not turn down the opportunity to work with Google again.
But for now, LG doesn't feel as though it needs the Nexus to survive. But that's ok, because we have a white Nexus 4 that's exactly the same!
Mozilla and Foxconn have announced that the two will be pairing up to debut a new Firefox OS device on June 3.
As for what it might be, Focus Taiwan, which cites an anonymous insider, reckons the new device will be a tablet that could see a budget slate enter the Apple-Android dominated arena.
Of course, Hon Hai (better known here as Foxconn) is Apple's favourite manufacturer for its mobile devices. The new partnership between Foxconn and Mozilla will be announced officially at the announcement next Monday.
Firefox OS offers a whole load of customisation options to manufacturers. And with Firefox not allowed on iOS, Mozilla's decision to be more proactive in the mobile market is unsurprising.
Foxconn will be the 19th company to get on board then Firefox OS project bandwagon when the official announcement happens. Could a more appealing budget tablet be on the horizon?
Cover your phone in all kinds of colours and textures
It was one of the hardest smartphones to get hold of, but with its brilliantly vibrant 4.7-inch display, quad-core power and wireless charging capabilities, the Google Nexus 4 was worth the wait.
With glass on the back and Gorilla glass up front, it's definitely a wise move to add a last line of smartphone defence.
So to make sure your LG-built Android smartphone stays in one piece, here are 10 of the best Google Nexus 4 cases to buy.
1. Flexishield Frost Skin - £9/AU$11/US$11.50
A budget-friendly solution that doesn't entirely hide away the sleek glass body, this durable silicone gel case wraps around the back of the phone and should provide everyday protection against bumps and scratches, all while adding just a few millimetres of thickness. Add in a raised bezel and you've got less to worry about if it drops screen-side up.
An alternative to the official Nexus 4 bumper, the TPU plastic Borderline adds a layer of security and keeps the back and front of the Android smartphone raised and away from surfaces. Buttons for the power and volume control are built into the design that still leaves that glossy glass back on show.
Guarding the back and sides of the Nexus 4 with a crystal clear back leaving the glass back on show, the slip-on case is built with polycarbonate and flexible rubber providing the added grip and a snug fit. The raised bezel keeps the screen off of surfaces, and the edges of the display are in no way impeded, ensuring you have completely unobstructed access to the display.
The official case keeps things relatively simple in the looks department, guarding the edges of your smartphone and adding built-in volume rocker and standby buttons. You've still got have access to charging and headphone ports, while its slightly raised design will also protect that glass chassis when it's on a table in public display.
5. Spigen Ultra Thin Air - £16/US$20 (around AU$25)
Offering a handset-hugging fit, this snap-on case is easy to snap back out again, is built from a tough, durable polycarbonate and sports a glossy matt design. In the box it comes with an Ultra Crystal screen protector and a micro fibre cloth so you can guard that 4.7-inch display and give it a buff to get rid of those fingerprints.
Adding just over 1mm of thickness, the ultra-thin Plextonium case clips onto the back of your Nexus 4, adding a subtle yet effective layer of protection. You can take your pick from a more complementary colour or go for a brighter neon shade and, crucially, all of the snap-on cases leave access to all key ports and the rear-facing snapper.
7. Zenus Masstige Colour Edge Diary case - £25/AU$31/US$35
The chocolate brown folio case with a diary-style body is made from synthetic leather and will hide away your Nexus 4 with a button fastener keeping it secure on the move. There's a pocket inside to hold a few cards and some emergency cash, plus a key cut-out for the rear-facing camera so you don't need to take it out to fire off a snap.
Covering both protective and hands-free viewing bases, the slimline case features a dual layer of shock-absorbing polymer to help soften the blow when dropped. The rubberised coating should make it nicer to grip in the hand, and with a kickstand at the back you can watch films and browse the web in landscape orientation.
9. Ballistic Shell Gel SG Series - £30/AU$40/US$35
Offering high grade levels of smartphone defence from all angles, the triple layered Ballistic Shell Gel SG Series case combines a silicone layer, durable polycarbonate and a Ballistic shock-absorbent polymer to offer more than sufficient armour for the back, sides and corners of the Nexus 4. Up front the lay-on-table design will keep the screen away from harm, which means you have all-round Nexus 4 protection.
Offering rugged, shock-absorbing leather surroundings for your Nexus 4, the vertical flip-style cover opens from the bottom with a latch keeping the device in place. A microsuede interior lining provides soft surroundings for your smartphone, as well as added screen protection when not in use.
While we might mainly hear about Android, iOS, Blackberry OS and Windows Phone – there are actually quite a few other mobile operating systems in the works including Sailfish OS, Tizen, Ubuntu (touch) and Firefox OS.
All of these later projects are still in the early stages of rolling out onto hardware, but we do have some news on Firefox OS. It seems that Mozilla and Foxconn have teamed up, sending out press events for an event on June 3rd, where they plan to reveal something Firefox OS related.
But what exactly? Just another Firefox OS budget smartphone? IF an anonymous source that “has knowledge of the matter” proves correct, it’s actually a tablet.
Up until now, just about everything we hear about Firefox OS seems geared at budget-end smartphones. Still, branching out to tablets makes a great deal of sense. The budget tablet market continues to grow with devices like the Nexus 7 doing quite well in the sub-$250 category. If Mozilla and Foxconn could take Firefox OS and optimize it to run well on extremely cheap tablet hardware – something with a MediaTek processor, maybe – perhaps they could create a solid device that aims around the sub-$150 mark.
For now, all of this remains rumor and speculation. There’s also the question of whether anyone would consider a Firefox OS tablet, when Android devices are already relatively cheap and yet compliant with a large array of apps.
Growing partnerships for Firefox OS
Keep in mind that Firefox OS isn’t geared at the same crowd as iOS and even Android. Sure, Android has budget devices but that’s not its sole (or arguably even primary) focus. In contrast, Mozilla aims to use Firefox OS to reach out to markets that are interested in making the switch to smartphones but can’t afford the Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5. This mainly includes emerging markets, but Mozilla also has plans for the low-end segment in countries such as the United States.
The goal is to create something as cheap, or cheaper, than budget Android devices but with optimization that makes them perform much faster.
It still remains unseen whether this will work for Mozilla, but apparently quite a few companies have at least some faith in the idea: Foxconn now makes for the 19th partner with Mozilla for their Firefox OS project.
And for Foxconn, Firefox OS could be a move forward for a company that has expressed interest in moving beyond just creating parts and devices for other companies like Apple. With Mozilla’s Firefox OS, the door could finally be open to creating their own hardware, aimed at the emerging world, including China.
What do you think of Firefox OS as a smartphone and tablet OS? Does the idea of a low cost, HTML5-based OS appeal to you? Can Mozilla pull off the idea of a “fast yet cheap” platform?
Well looky here, the much-rumoured Google Nexus 4 has finally been announced by LG, but those hoping for an upgraded handset will be sorely disappointed.
It was hoped that the white Nexus 4 may pop up with a newer version of Google's operating system, with reports suggesting it may be running Android 4.3, but alas it's stuck on the same Android 4.2.2 as its black brother.
On the plus side you shouldn't have too long to wait to get your mitts on it, with the white Nexus 4 hitting shelves in Hong Kong on May 29, while the likes of Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East following in the next few weeks. We just hope LG has its production sorted out.
More blips!
While you wait for the white LG Nexus 4 to land in a store near you, check out some of our colour-neutral blips.
